Verseon announced that it presented new efficacy results on its diabetic macular edema drug candidates at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2018 annual meeting in Honolulu. The preclinical data show that Verseon’s oral plasma kallikrein inhibitors successfully reduce retinal thickness and retinal leakage, two hallmarks of the disease. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of blindness in today’s growing diabetic population. In diabetics, chronically high blood sugar can weaken blood vessels in the eye and cause fluids to leak. Fluid accumulating in the macula (the central region of the retina responsible for keenest vision) can result in swelling, blurred vision, and eventually central vision loss. The current standard of care for DME includes regular injections into the eye of repurposed anticancer agents or corticosteroids, treatments associated with side effects such as inflammation and infection.