OIS Retina 2022: What We’ve Learned From Retina’s Successes and Failures

Click here to watch the video version of this podcast.

The approval of Lucentis in 2006 ushered in a new wave of drug development in retina. In the years since, the retina space has had a number of wins and losses in the drug development column. Promising treatments made it to Phase III and failed. Big pharma exited the market and returned. As Pravin Dugel, MD, president of Iveric Bio, reported at the recent OIS Retina Innovation Summit, four of the top five ophthalmology companies are projecting revenue losses through 2026.

The good news? Lots of exciting developments, some M&A activity, and partnerships between large pharma companies and early-stage startups. What needs to happen to ensure more winning product launches?

Dr. Dugel moderated a panel with two other physicians and two investment bankers that explored the market overall, the potential for future acquisitions, and promising complements to anti-VEGF treatments. The innovation and unmet need are there, the panelists said. What’s needed is a breakthrough that can move the needle for companies facing patent expirations.

Listen to the podcast today to hear the panelists discuss the following:

• What’s the state of the current retina landscape? Are investors taking a wait-and-see approach or will they become more active?
• What are large buyers focused on?
• What are the danger signs of a Phase II failure?
• Will there be a dominant effect with the next big success? What will it take to bring back deals with large- and mid-cap companies?
• What equates to promising data for pharma companies today? Has the bar moved?
• How does the payer environment factor into decisions?
• What will retina specialists be able to offer patients in five years that they can’t today?

Click “play” to listen.