Eyetech Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer recently applied with U.S. regulators to market their experimental drug for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in older people.

Eyetech is one of a growing group of sensoceutical companies developing therapeutics to stem sensory decline associated with aging. Today, over 15 million people in the United States suffer from some form of AMD. This number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years as life expectancy continues to climb. In addition to sight, other sensoceutical companies are currently working on treatments for other sensory system disorders, such as: hearing loss, taste disorders, and chronic pain.