Mimicking Nature, Modulating Vision: Peptidomimetic Neurotrophin Agonists and Emerging Regenerative Strategies in Ocular Disease

Therapeutic strategies for ocular diseases are undergoing a transformative shift from symptom management to regenerative and disease-modifying approaches. This review highlights the development of neurotrophin receptor agonists-including recombinant nerve growth factor (NGF) (cenegermin), peptidomimetics (e.g., REC-0559, tavilermide), and synthetic microneurotrophins (BNN27, ENT-A010)-that target tropomyosin receptor kinases (TrkA/TrkB) and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) pathways to promote neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and tissue repair in neurotrophic keratitis, dry eye disease, and retinal degenerations. Parallel advances in peptide-based therapies address vascular and inflammatory pathologies: UPARANT and its derivatives modulate urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR)/formyl peptide receptor (FPR) signaling to inhibit angiogenesis and inflammation in diabetic retinopathy, whereas sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P)-S1PR₃ pepducins and integrin antagonists (risuteganib, THR-687, OTT166) offer multi-targeted strategies to stabilize the blood-retinal barrier and mitigate neovascularization. Innovations in drug delivery, such as dendrimer-peptide conjugates, enhance the stability and bioavailability of these agents. Further, senolytic therapies (e.g., UBX1325, procyanidin C1) are emerging as a promising approach for age-related and diabetic retinal diseases by clearing senescent cells and attenuating senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-driven inflammation. Together, these approaches exemplify a paradigm of "mimicking nature to modulate vision", leveraging molecular insights to develop therapies that restore rather than merely preserve ocular function. While clinical validation is ongoing, the convergence of neurotrophic support, vascular modulation, and senescence targeting heralds a new era in precision ophthalmology.