This transcript has been edited for clarity.

Hi, I’m Diana Do, MD, from Retinal Physician. I’m with my friend and colleague Leo A. Kim, MD, PhD, from Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard. Tell us about the exciting data you’re sharing about the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Leo A. Kim, MD, PhD: So the work that we’re doing in our lab is we're using Rho kinase inhibition as a treatment for PVR. In our lab, we've developed these models based upon patient-derived membranes, and we’ve been using these models to identify the mechanisms of PVR pathophysiology. So what we are doing in the lab is looking at the use of Rho kinase inhibition via netarsudil, and we're using netarsudil to show the many effects that it has on PVR, especially in inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In addition to that, with my colleague Elliott Sohn, MD, we’ve been doing a pilot study where we’ve used netarsudil—currently used for glaucoma (Rhopressa; Alcon)—for the treatment of PVR. In patients that we’ve treated with netarsudil for PVR, we’re able to really significantly inhibit PVR recurrence.

Diana Do, MD: That’s very exciting, and we know that's an unmet need because it's so challenging when you have recurrent retinal detachments. How often would you have to administer this medicine?

Dr. Kim: The FDA-approved indication for netarsudil is that you can use this drug once per day. That’s what we’re doing right now, once a day. We’re trying to treat them during that window where PVR can really flare up, for the first 3 months after surgery.

Dr. Do: Well, congratulations—very exciting, and thank you for sharing that information with us! RP