rhNGF shows neuroprotective efficacy by counteracting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in a glaucoma mouse model

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative condition characterised by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and irreversible vision impairment and one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Current treatments primarily focus on reducing intraocular pressure (IOP), yet many patients continue to experience disease progression. Neurotrophin-based therapies, such as recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF), offer a promising candidate alternative by directly targeting neuronal survival mechanisms.

In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective efficacy of a single intravitreal administration of rhNGF in a well-established genetic murine model of spontaneous pigmentary glaucoma, assessing its effects on visual function, retinal morphology, metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Our results demonstrate that rhNGF ameliorates visual acuity loss, preserves retinal thickness, sustains RGC survival, and reduces oxidative stress and neuroinflammation both in early-stage and fully developed disease. Notably, these protective effects persisted for several weeks after a single intravitreal administration.

Collectively, our findings support rhNGF as a multifaceted neuroprotective approach to hamper glaucomatous damage. This work has been supported by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (former Ministry of Economic Development), CUP F/180021/01-04/X43“Identication of new compounds for the pharmacological treatment of high need care pathologies of eye and ear”. Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy Davide Vecchiotti, Mauro Di Vito Nolfi, Chiara Compagnoni, Martina Sara Miscione, Daniela Verzella, Irene Flati, Adriano Angelucci, Alessandra Tessitore, Daria Capece, Edoardo Alesse & Francesca Zazzeroni School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, University of Bristol, BS81TW, Bristol, UK Dompé Farmaceutici Spa, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy Francesca Galli, Franca Cattani & Marcello Allegretti Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences (MeSVA), University of L’Aquila, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy Correspondence to Davide Vecchiotti or Francesca Zazzeroni.

FG, FC and MA are employees of Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., Italy. The other authors declare no competing interests. Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Vecchiotti, D., Di Vito Nolfi, M., Compagnoni, C. et al. rhNGF shows neuroprotective efficacy by counteracting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in a glaucoma mouse model. Cell Death Discov. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-026-03345-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-026-03345-y