Graybug Builds Team, Advances Pipeline
Jeffrey Cleland, president and CEO, Graybug Vision, reports progress on its two treatments for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and glaucoma.
The company is working with an approved cancer treatment, Sutent, which has demonstrated the ability to restore vision in patients who also suffer from wet AMD. An animal study of the company’s compound, GB-102 (sunitinib), suggested it could perform better than FDA-approved Eyelea (aflibercept) and might only need to be delivered twice a year (and once a year might be possible). Animal studies of over 200 rabbits showed no evidence of inflammation or toxicity. The company must complete one more animal study before filing for an IND. Graybug’s GB-102 also performed better when compared against aflibercept in the animal studies. Cleland also announced the addition of Chief Medical Officer Charles Semba, who developed the clinical program for Lucentis and Xiidra; he has joined the company along with Ward Peterson, PhD, who will serve as senior vice president of clinical development. The company expects to initiate a Phase I/II trial of GB-102, switching AMD patients on anti-VEGF treatments in the first half of 2017. The company hopes to have an initial readout in 2018. In 2019, Graybug anticipates conducting a larger randomized trial against Eyelea. In glaucoma, the company anticipates beginning a proof-of-concept trial on its glaucoma programs in the first half of 2017 followed by the filing of an IND and Phase I/II trial in the first half of 2018. The initial readout is expected in the first half of 2019.
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Participant:
Jeffrey Cleland, PhD
Jeff has 20 years of industry experience in research and development, including more than a decade at Genentech, Inc. His experience in startups includes major roles in obtaining more than $450 million in capital at stages from Series A through D and exit via IPO including over $300 million in capital raised as CEO.