AMD | Ophthalmology Innovation Source

The NEI’s Role in Innovation

The National Eye Institute (NEI) spends $675 million annually, mostly on basic science and discovery research. In addition, said Matthew J. McMahon, PhD, Director of the agency’s Office of Translational Research, “We have a clear mandate to help translate these discoveries into clinical medicine and public health improvements.” He points to the agency’s role in…

Avalanche Biotechnologies Gives Ocular BioFactory Tour

Thomas W. Chalberg, PhD presented an update on Avalanche Biotechnologies Inc.’s pipeline of products emerging from its integrated gene therapy discovery, development, and manufacturing platform, Ocular BioFactory. Avalanche’s lead product, AVA-101, is undergoing Phase IIa clinical trials for wet AMD; the company could submit an investigational new drug applications in the second half of 2015.…

Ophthotech Shares Late-Stage Progress of Fovista

CEO David R. Guyer, MD reports that Phase III clinical trials of Ophthotech Corp.’s Fovista, a first-in-class anti-PDGF agent for wet AMD combination therapy, are on track. The company expects to receive top-line data in 2016. Meanwhile, Ophthotech is partnering with Novartis to sell Fovista outside the US. The deal could be worth $1 billion…

GrayBug With Preclinical Work On Microparticle Anti-VEGF Compound GB-102

GrayBug LLC is conducting preclinical work on its microparticle anti-VEGF compound GB-102, an extended-release injectable for wet AMD. The platform encapsulates the active drug ingredient in microparticles that degrade over time once injected into the eye to gradually release the agent. In mouse studies, GB-102 has been shown to prolong suppression of choroidal neovascularization 4.5…

ONL Therapeutics Develops Novel Mechanism To Attack Fas Receptor Apoptosis

ONL Therapeutics Inc. is developing Met12, a small peptide inhibitor that uses a novel mechanism to attack Fas receptor apoptosis, which has a key role in retinal detachment and AMD, CEO John Freshley reported. The drug targets the pathway activated in Fas-mediated apoptosis, Freshley said. Fas is an antigen encoded to the tumor necrosis factor…

Translatum Medicus Developing Option To Treat Dry AMD

Clinicians have few treatment options for dry AMD, but Translatum Medicus Inc., is working on an agent, TMi-018, for such an indication. President and CSO Shelley Boyd, MD, FRCSC, explained the company has reverse engineered an animal model to mimic the disease so investigators can test treatments. TMi-018 is a first-in-class transcriptional modulator that is…

PanOptica Offers a “Do it Yourself” Treatment for Neovascular AMD

PanOptica – Paul Chaney, President & CEO for PanOptica, expands upon averting intravitreal injections with a topically, self-administered eye drop to treat Neovascular AMD. Striving to decrease the burden of injections and injection related risks, Paul shares the company’s unique discovery that led to their many successes. Presenter: Paul Chaney Paul G. Chaney is Co-Founder,…

Ophthotech Introduces Their Antigen for WetAMD

David Guyer, CEO, discusses their novel anti-PDGF antigen for Wet AMD. Using FlowVista in combination with standard of care anti-VEGF therapy, David expands on the products successes, which have led to phase three testing and secured financing. Presenter: David Guyer, MD Under Dr. Guyer’s leadership, Ophthotech raised more than $350 million in financing from May…

ALG1001 Leads Allegro’s Progress in Retinal Diseases

Vicken Karageozian, Co-Founder & CTO for Allegro Ophthalmics, shares his company’s story and highlights the progress of their lead molecule, ALG1001, a lead program for several retinal diseases. This program offers a long duration of effect, the option of using combination therapy and treatment for patients who have plateaued or are no longer responding to…

New Injection Technology Sets the Standard for Icon BioSciences

William S. (Sandy) White, President & CEO for Icon BioSciences, discusses the company’s increasing portfolio of products that target most major therapeutic areas of ophthalmology. Stressing the importance of getting the correct drug, in the correct place, with the best clinical approach, Sandy details the progress of their latest products and briefly highlights their newest…

RXi Shortens Strands for Effective Drug Delivery

Geert Cauwenbergh, President & CEO for RXi Pharmaceuticals, shares the company’s role in making RNAI relevant to ophthalmology. Highlighting their research surrounding the delivery of drug to the eye, Geert expands on their unique modification to create shorter passenger strands to accompany the longer guide strand to facilitate delivery to the eye effectively. Presenter: Geert…

2013 OIS Ophthalmology Innovation Award Ceremony

Bill Link, Managing Director for Versant Ventures presents the first ever “Eye on Innovation Award” during the 2nd Annual Ophthalmology Innovation Summit on April 18, 2013. Expressing the importance of SecondSight’s upcoming technology, Bill provides a brief explanation of the company’s achievement before inviting them to accept the award and present on their innovative technology.…