Barbara Wirostko, Chief Medical Officer of Altheos, will give featured presentation at GTC’s 3rd Ocular Diseases & Drug Discovery Conference, Boston, MA, May 26-27 2011

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWire) -- 03/14/2011 -- Barbara Wirostko, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Altheos, will give a featured presentation on Rho Kinase Inhibitors for Glaucoma: IOP Lowering Plus at GTC’s 3rd Ocular Diseases & Drug Discovery Conference on May 26-27, 2011 in Boston, MA.

Barbara Wirostko will present her topic on glaucoma treatment, discussing how Rho kinase (ROCK1 and ROCK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that serves as an important downstream effector of Rho GTPase. This class of kinases plays a key role in regulating the contractile tone of smooth muscle tissue through actin stress fibers via the phosphorylation of MLC (myosin light chain) in a calcium-independent manner. Myosin phosphorylation and the resultant increase in the contractile state is regulated through ROCK and subsequent vascular smooth muscle mediators such as Nitric oxide and endothelin. Rock inhibition leads to the relaxation of smooth muscle fibers. Experimental evidence indicates that inhibiting ROCK activity through topical and systemic ROCK I s could be beneficial for the treatment of increased intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. The rationale stems from data suggesting that both ROCK and Rho GTPase inhibitors can increase aqueous humor drainage via trabecular meshwork smooth muscle and ciliary muscle relaxation.

GTC’s 3rd Ocular Diseases conference will also bring together leaders from GlaxoSmithKline, ORA, the John A. Moran Eye Center, Santen, Allergan, and more. Updates on age-related macular degeneration, recent drug developments and mechanisms, rho kinase inhibitors, and the future of ocular disease therapeutics will be addressed and discussed.

GTCbio’s 3rd Ocular Disease & Drug Discovery Conference will provide cutting edge information and a chance to exchange ideas from leading experts in the field. Don’t miss this opportunity to register for GTC’s Ocular Diseases conference at https://www.gtcbio.com/index.php?option=com_register&cn=3rd%20Ocular%20Diseases%20&cid=23