Sortilin antagonists for use in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy

A method of prevention or treatment of diabetic retinopathy comprising administration of a therapeutic amount of a sortilin antagonist to a subject in need thereof, wherein the sortilin antagonist is a compound of Formula (I):

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, geometrical isomer, tautomer, optical isomer, N-oxide, and/or prodrug thereof, wherein
• Y is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NR5—, and —S—;
• Z is selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl;
• (ii) C6-C10 aryl and C1-C9 heteroaryl,
• wherein C6-C10 aryl and C1-C9 heteroaryl are unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of —OR15, halo, and C1-C4 alkyl, wherein R15 is H, C1-C3 alkyl, or C4 alkyl,
• and/or wherein an alkylene group is attached to two adjacent atoms of the C6-C10 aryl or C1-C9 heteroaryl group to form a 5- or 6-membered partially saturated or saturated ring, wherein the alkylene group is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halo atoms:
• A, B, C and D are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, halo, NO2, unsubstituted or substituted C6-C10 aryl, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C9 heteroaryl, —OR6, NR7R8, —SR9, —C(O)OR10, —C(O)NR11R12, —C(O)SR13, C(O2)SR14;
• R1, R4, R5, R6, R9, R10, R13, and R14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-C6 alkyl group, wherein the C1-C6 alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halo atoms;
• and
• R2, R3, R7, R8, R11, and R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-C6 alkyl, wherein the C1-C6 alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halo atoms, or R2 and R3, R7 and R8, and/or R11 and R12 can be taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to from a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halo atoms.