OIS RETINA PRESENTING COMPANIES
Dhaval Desai, PharmD, Chief Development Officer - 4DMT
4DMT is a leading late-stage biotechnology company advancing durable and disease-targeted therapeutics with potential to transform treatment paradigms and provide unprecedented benefits to patients. The Company’s lead product candidate 4D-150 is designed to be a backbone therapy forming the foundation of treatment of blinding retinal vascular diseases by providing multi-year sustained delivery of anti-VEGF (aflibercept and anti-VEGF-C) with a single, safe, intravitreal injection, which substantially reduces the treatment burden associated with current bolus injections. The Company’s lead indication for 4D-150 is wet age-related macular degeneration, which is currently in Phase 3 development, and the second indication is diabetic macular edema. The Company’s second product candidate is 4D-710, which is the first known genetic medicine to demonstrate successful delivery and expression of the CFTR transgene in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis after aerosol delivery.
Dina Akasheh, PhD, MBA, VP, Medical & Scientific Affairs - Adverum Biotechnologies
Adverum Biotechnologies- a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company is a clinical-stage company that aims to establish gene therapy as a new standard of care for highly prevalent ocular diseases with the aspiration of developing functional cures to restore vision and prevent blindness. Leveraging the research capabilities of its proprietary intravitreal (IVT) platform, Adverum is developing durable, single-administration therapies, designed to be delivered in physicians’ offices, to eliminate the need for frequent ocular injections to treat these diseases. Adverum is evaluating its novel gene therapy candidate, ixoberogene soroparvovec (Ixo-vec, formerly referred to as ADVM-022), as a one-time, IVT injection for patients with neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration. By overcoming the challenges associated with current treatment paradigms for these debilitating ocular diseases, Adverum aspires to transform the standard of care, preserve vision, and create a profound societal impact around the globe.
Carlos Quezada Ruiz, MD, Chief Medical Officer - Alkeus Pharmaceuticals
Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a private biopharmaceutical company dedicated to preserving the sight of individuals impacted by retinal diseases. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Alkeus is backed by institutional investors led by Bain Capital Life Sciences. Alkeus is developing therapies for serious diseases of the eye with high unmet need. Alkeus’ breakthrough-designated lead candidate, gildeuretinol acetate (ALK-001), currently is being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of Stargardt disease.
Ben Toker, CEO - Amaros
Amaros Inc. is a Silicon Valley-based deep tech company delivering AI-powered Precision Intelligence through advanced data analytics, exclusively for ophthalmology. Amaros is redefining how clinics, CROs, and Pharmacological companies use complex and fragmented data for impactful real-world evidence through its specialized algorithms. Its flagship AmarosEngine is a proprietary precision intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates multiple data (EHR, physician notes, biomarker detection for raw images) systems to unify information into a single, dynamic ecosystem—transforming complexity into real-time, actionable insights.
Susan Schneider, MD, Acting Chief Medical Officer - Ashvattha Therapeutics
Ashvattha Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel precision nanomedicines enabled by our hydroxyl dendrimer technology to treat unmet medical needs in ophthalmology.
Ali Basiri, CEO - Bioxytech Retina
Bioxytech Retina, Inc. is developing a novel retinal imaging platform that detects early functional changes in retinal blood circulation to predict and monitor diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and neurodegenerative conditions. The system combines proprietary hardware and software, including an add-on module that integrates with widely used fundus cameras, enabling rapid clinical adoption. Our non-invasive, quantitative technology measures retinal metabolic changes and can identify disease progression 6–12 months earlier than current structural imaging methods. The platform enables earlier diagnosis, improved disease staging, and better monitoring of treatment response. The device has been developed for diabetic retinopathy applications and has already undergone initial clinical testing.
Muhammad Ali Memon, MD, Chief Medical Officer - Complement Therapeutics
Clinical stage company in the midst of sub-retinal gene therapy trial with mini-CR1 in geographic atrophy
TBD - EyePoint
EyePoint (Nasdaq: EYPT) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics to help improve the lives of patients with serious retinal diseases. The Company's pipeline leverages its proprietary bioerodible Durasert E™ technology for sustained intraocular drug delivery. The Company’s lead product candidate, DURAVYU™ is an investigational sustained delivery treatment for VEGF-mediated retinal diseases combining vorolanib, a selective and patent-protected tyrosine kinase inhibitor with bioerodible Durasert E™. Supported by robust safety and efficacy data to date, DURAVYU is presently in Phase 3 global, pivotal clinical trials for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among people 50 years of age and older in the United States and recently completed a Phase 2 clinical trial in diabetic macular edema (DME).
Jan Tode, PhD, CMO, MacuTherm & Deputy Head, Hannover Medical School - OD-OS / Macutherm
OD-OS MacuTherm is developing in collaboration with leading retinal experts a breakthrough therapeutic solution to halt the progression of dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in early to intermediate stages addressing the unmet needs of over 200 million patients worldwide. Our patented technology applies a dose-controlled photothermal stimulation to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), boosting its metabolic activity while preserving the integrity of the overlying photoreceptors. This approach is designed to improve retinal health to extend photoreceptor function, leading to longer unimpaired vision for AMD patients.
Anita Trajkovska-Broach, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer -NeuroRays
NeuroRays™ specializes in advanced delivery of select photo-biomodulation (“PBM”) light wavelengths to the retina of the human eye. NeuroRays has invented, developed, and patented ocular PBM technology that protects the fovea, parafovea, perifovea, or all the macula while simultaneously stimulating the peripheral retina. The NeuroRays PBM technology provides a proprietary irradiance level of multiple PBM light wavelengths to activate specific photoreceptors, as well as other cells in the retina in order to noninvasively affect the physiology of the human eye. In certain targeted cases, the PBM light stimulus modulates neurotransmitter release via cellular photo-biomodulation pathways, thus positively impacting the health and wellbeing of the eye.
Rich Small, CEO - Neurotech Pharmaceuticals
Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a private biotech company focused on developing transformative therapies for chronic eye diseases. The core platform technology, Encapsulated Cell Therapy (ECT), is a first-in-class drug delivery platform designed to slow the progression of Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel) and other chronic eye diseases. ENCELTOTM (revakinagene taroretcel-lwey) is approved in the United States for the treatment of adults with idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel).
Christian Roesky, PhD, CEO - Novaliq
Novaliq is a private ophthalmic pharmaceutical company dedicated to preserving vision and improving quality of life. Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, with an office in Cambridge, MA, USA, we advance ocular therapies where strong science meets high unmet patient need. We are best known for EyeSol®, our first-in-class dry eye disease category-defining technology, available in the products Miebo™ (Bausch + Lomb), Vevye™ (Harrow) and Vevizye™ (Thea Pharma). These products have redefined topical treatment for patients with dry eye. Novaliq is now extending EyeSol® to diseases of the back of the eye—conditions that drive vision loss yet remain largely unreachable for topical drugs. EyeSol® enables pan-ocular delivery of active substances, creating new opportunities for non-invasive interventions and early disease management. Our pipeline follows a disciplined R&D path to evaluating back-of-the-eye treatments. Our ambition is a scalable platform that brings topical therapy to ocular diseases with high unmet need, enabling early intervention and defining a new standard of care.
Shanker Musunuri, PhD, CEO - Ocugen
Ocugen, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene therapies to address major blindness diseases and offer hope for patients across the globe. We are making an impact on patient’s lives through courageous innovation—forging new scientific paths that harness our unique intellectual and human capital. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to address significant unmet medical need for large patient populations through our gene-agnostic approach.
Sean McDonald, President & CEO - Ocugenix
Ocugenix was founded on twenty years of NIH-funded research into the molecular mechanisms of wound healing conducted at the University of Pittsburgh, totaling $25 million. This work found that the CXCR3 pathway is the "switch" that turns off wound healing and fibrotic tissue remodeling. By activating that switch, the Ocugenix therapy leverages the natural processes that occur at the end of wound healing, driving the death of pathological vasculature and suppressing fibrosis. We have shown in humans that by leveraging this pathway, we can actually shut down wet AMD. Our compound, "OGX110", is a peptidyl-mimetic and is the only compound on the market or in clinical development that can potentially shut down the disease pathology, potentially permanently. It has also been shown to cause regression of the pathological vasculature and suppress fibrosis.
Peter K. Kaiser, MD, Chief Development Officer - Ocular Therapeutix
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. is an integrated biopharmaceutical company committed to redefining the retina experience. AXPAXLI™ (also known as OTX-TKI), Ocular’s investigational product candidate for retinal disease, is an axitinib intravitreal hydrogel based on its ELUTYX™ proprietary bioresorbable hydrogel-based formulation technology. AXPAXLI is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), and diabetic retinal disease, including non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Ocular’s pipeline also leverages the ELUTYX technology in its commercial product DEXTENZA®, an FDA-approved corticosteroid for the treatment of ocular inflammation and pain following ophthalmic surgery in adults and pediatric patients and ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in adults and pediatric patients aged two years or older, and in its investigational product candidate OTX-TIC, which is a travoprost intracameral hydrogel that has completed a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Ocular is currently evaluating next steps for the OTX-TIC program.
Riad Sherif, MD, CEO - Oculis
Oculis is a global biopharmaceutical company (Nasdaq: OCS; XICE: OCS) focused on breakthrough innovations to address significant unmet medical needs in neuro-ophthalmology and ophthalmology. Oculis’ highly differentiated late-stage clinical pipeline includes three core product candidates: Privosegtor, a breakthrough neuroprotective candidate in the PIONEER program which consists of studies intended to support registration plans for treatment in optic neuropathies like optic neuritis (ON) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), with potentially broad clinical applications in various other neuro-ophthalmic and neurological diseases; OCS-01, an eye drop in pivotal registration studies, aiming to become the first non-invasive topical treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME); and Licaminlimab, a novel, topical anti-TNFα in registrational trial, which is being developed with a genotype-based approach to drive precision medicine in dry eye disease (DED). Headquartered in Switzerland with operations in the U.S. and Iceland, Oculis is led by an experienced management team with a successful track record and supported by leading international healthcare investors.
Bernhard Günther, CEO & Chairman of the Board - Ophthorobotics AG
Ophthorobotics is a swiss start up company focusing on automated and remotely controlled intra-vitreal injections. Our robot assisted system is designed to be the first autonomous working intravitreal injection system to administer medications for the treatment of sight threatening retinal diseases, in particular age-related macula degeneration. The original business idea was developed by leading retina surgeons and conceptualized by the multiscale robotics lab at the ETH in Zurich. With this completely new and unique technological concept, Ophthorobotics is targeting the huge market for intravitreal injections, which is performed millions of times a year and continues to show strong growth rates.
Houman Hemmati, MD, PhD, Co-Founder & CMO - Optigo
Optigo Biotherapeutics is fundamentally redefining treatment durability in the multi-billion dollar retinal market. While current anti-VEGF therapies have revolutionized vision care, real-world outcomes are still crippled by the immense burden of frequent injections. Leveraging our proprietary Hyaluronic Acid (HA)-anchoring platform, we have engineered a pipeline of long-acting biologics—including our lead anti-VEGF asset—designed to extend dosing intervals to every 9-12 months. By anchoring therapies to endogenous ocular proteins, we aren't just extending half-life; we are eliminating the adherence gap and delivering a transformative long acting biologics platform.
George Magrath, MD, MBA, CEO - Opus Genetics
Opus Genetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and small molecule therapies for other ophthalmic disorders. The Company’s pipeline features AAV-based gene therapies targeting inherited retinal diseases including Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), bestrophinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Its lead gene therapy candidates are OPGx-LCA5, which is in an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial for LCA5-related mutations, and OPGx-BEST1, a gene therapy targeting BEST1-related retinal degeneration. Opus Genetics is also advancing Phentolamine Ophthalmic Solution 0.75%, a partnered therapy currently approved in one indication and being studied in two Phase 3 programs for presbyopia and reduced low light vision and nighttime visual disturbances. The Company is based in Research Triangle Park, NC.
Shelley Boyd, Founder & CEO / Chief Medical Officer - Oxidium Therapeutics
Oxidium Therapeutics is a preclinical biotech company developing a pipeline of fatty acid mimetics (FAMs) to reduce the onset and expansion of geographic atrophy (GA) in dry AMD, protecting tissue at risk. Our novel approach simultaneously targets oxidative stress, tissue metabolism, and macrophage behaviour, with a lead program supported by prior human oral exposure and strong efficacy in models of outer retinal atrophy and RPE loss, by both oral and intravitreal delivery. Oxidium combines biologic novelty, unique translational models, and development flexibility with a pipeline of new chemical entities (NCEs) designed for long-term value creation. By uniquely advancing FAM-based therapeutics in dry AMD, Oxidium represents a compelling early stage opportunity for investors and partners seeking innovative approaches to one of ophthalmology’s most consequential unmet needs.
Peter Francis, MD, PhD, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer - Ray Therapeutics
Ray Therapeutics (RayTx) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering optogenetic gene therapies for blinding retinal diseases. RayTx aims to provide best-in-class and first-in-class, mutation-agnostic, vision restoration to patients without available treatment options. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Berkeley, CA, the company raised $100 million in a Series A financing led by Novo Holdings in May 2023.
RayTx's lead asset, RTx-015, delivers a highly bioengineered light-sensitive protein, is currently in phase 1 / 2 clinical trials, initially for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and choroideremia. RTx-021, the second asset, is expected to enter clinical trials in 2025 for Stargardt macular dystrophy (STGD) and geographic atrophy age related macular degeneration (GA AMD).
Ram Palanki, PharmD, Chief Commercial Officer - REGENXBIO
REGENXBIO is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to improve lives through the curative potential of gene therapy. Our gene therapy product candidates are designed to deliver genes to cells to address genetic defects or to enable cells in the body to produce therapeutic proteins that are intended to impact disease. Through a single administration, our product candidates are designed to provide long-lasting effects, potentially significantly altering the course of disease and delivering improved patient outcomes. We are developing gene therapy product candidates for the treatment of rare and retinal diseases. Our product candidates utilize AAV viral vectors from our proprietary NAV® Technology Platform. In addition to our internal product candidate programs, we also selectively license our NAV® vectors, enabling the development of new medicines. Thousands of patients have been treated with investigational and approved products built on REGENXBIO’s AAV platform.
Natasa Jovic, Vice President, Marketing Strategy & Research Partnerships - RetinAI
Established in 2017, Ikerian AG (formerly RetinAI Medical AG) and its subsidiary, RetinAI U.S. Inc. (‘Ikerian’, ‘RetinAI’ and, together, ‘the company’), develops software solutions to accelerate clinical, research and pharmaceutical workflows globally using advanced machine learning and computer vision. Focused on the ophthalmology and optometry market, RetinAI builds tools to collect, organize and analyze health data from the eyes, enabling healthcare professionals to make the right decisions sooner in healthcare. RetinAI's international team leverages its clinical, technical, and scientific expertise to foster the transition from reactive to preventive medicine for severe eye diseases. A commercial stage company with growing sales from RetinAI Discovery®, RetinAI has established collaborations and partnerships with leading ophthalmology clinical networks and pharmaceutical companies. About Ikerian AG www.ikerian.com and RetinAI Inc. US www.retinai.com.
Andreas Gonzalez, Founder & Surgical Retina Specialist - Retinex
Retinex is a FHIR-native, AI-native electronic medical record (EMR) platform purpose-built for ophthalmology. Designed from the ground up for modern clinical workflows, Retinex integrates imaging, documentation, and operational processes into a unified system tailored to high-volume ophthalmic practices. The platform emphasizes structured data, interoperability, and efficiency across clinical and administrative workflows, supporting all ophthalmic subspecialties. Retinex is currently advancing toward ONC-aligned certification and preparing for pilot deployment within a multi-physician ophthalmology practice.
Michael O'Rourke, CEO - Re-Vana Therapeutics
Re-Vana Therapeutics is a venture-backed ocular therapeutics and drug delivery company dedicated to transforming the treatment paradigm in retinal diseases through innovative sustained-release technologies. The company has developed a proprietary platform of biodegradable, photo-crosslinked hydrogel implants designed to deliver a broad range of therapeutics including biologics (fAb, mAb, fusion proteins, bispecifics), peptides, oligonucleotides, complement therapies and small molecules for six months or longer without the need for surgery. Re-Vana’s mission is to address one of the most significant unmet needs in global ophthalmology: reducing the treatment burden associated with chronic retinal diseases. Current standards of care often require frequent intravitreal injections, placing considerable strain on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. Through its EyeLief® and OcuLief® platforms, Re-Vana enables sustained, clinically relevant drug exposure over extended periods, with the potential to significantly reduce injection frequency while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. The company has secured a multi-target, billion-dollar strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim, validating its platform and accelerating the advancement of multiple programs toward clinical and commercial milestones. Re-Vana is progressing a pipeline of proprietary and partnered long-acting therapies targeting major retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, Re-Vana recently expanded into a purpose-built 8,000 sq. ft. facility in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter. This expansion strengthens the company’s internal development capabilities, operational scale, and capacity to support global partnerships. By delivering consistent, long-term therapeutic exposure through a differentiated, non-surgical approach, Re-Vana is redefining retinal disease management improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare burden, and enabling the next generation of long-acting ophthalmic therapies.
Eric Schlumpf, President & CEO - Stuart Therapeutics
Stuart Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of therapeutics targeting collagen in the extracellular matrix of the eye, a target previously beyond the reach of conventional therapies. Stuart’s therapeutic pipeline is based on its proprietary PolyCol Collagen Mimetic Peptide (CMP) technology platform, composed of more than 400 CMP sequences applicable across a wide range of ophthalmic indications, including dry eye disease, corneal wound healing, glaucoma, myopia, and retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. Its lead asset, ST-100, is a novel collagen-reparative therapeutic designed to restore homeostatic function on the ocular surface, thereby alleviating the effects of dry eye disease. ST-100’s Phase 3b trial is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. For more information, visit www.StuartTherapeutics.com.
Daniel Chao, MD, Vice President, Head of Clinical Development - Surrozen
Surrozen is a biotechnology company focused pioneering therapies that harness the power of Wnt signaling to treat sight-threatening conditions. Our lead asset is a bifunctional antibody which combines Wnt activation with VEGF inhibition for the treatment of retinal vascular diseases planning to enter the clinic later in 2026. Additional assets in the pipeline include a trifunctional Wnt agonist/VEGF inhibitor/IL-6 inhibitor, and an earlier asset geared toward Geographic atrophy.
Molly Shoichet, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer - Synakis
Synakis has developed a patented hydrogel with physical and chemical properties closely matching those of the native vitreous. This material is injectable, transparent, non-swelling, and fully biodegradable. The hydrogel serves as a versatile and biocompatible platform for ocular applications. It can function as a vitreous replacement and be engineered for sustained, controlled delivery of prodrugs and biologics for conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Sven Mentink, Director Ophthalmology - Uneedle
Uneedle develops precision silicon microneedle technology for targeted suprachoroidal delivery to the retina and macula. Its microneedle platform, Bella-Vue, enables reliable, minimally invasive access to the suprachoroidal space for the delivery of gene therapies, biologics, and other retinal therapeutics. Uneedle’s devices are among the very few suprachoroidal delivery systems to have been used in human clinical trials, offering drug developers a clinically validated path toward the suprachoroidal space. Recognized by leading ophthalmic device teams and preclinical CROs for its reliability and ease of use, Bella-Vue is designed to integrate seamlessly into ophthalmic workflows while supporting consistent and reproducible suprachoroidal administration.
Greg Kunst, CEO - Valitor
Valitor is engineering a new generation of long-acting ophthalmic medicines using its multivalent polymer (MVP) platform. Valitor’s lead product VLTR-559 is a long-acting inhibitor of VEGF designed to reliably extend the duration of a single dose in humans to six months or more. Based on extensive preclinical data, VLTR-559 has the potential to become a best-in-class therapy for wet AMD using a 6-month treat-and-release protocol. The MVP platform has also been designed for plug-and-play versatility to efficiently develop long-acting therapies using a variety of payloads, including compounds from industry collaborators as part of ongoing co-development activities. This has enabled Valitor to initiate development on a pipeline of best-in-class ophthalmic medicines with increased potency and extended therapeutic duration based on validated mechanisms of action.