2023 PRESENTING COMPANIES
about Apellis >>
Apellis is a global biopharmaceutical company that leverages courageous science, creativity, and compassion to lead the development of therapies that target the complement system. Apellis is committed to addressing the unmet medical needs of patients and eye care professionals worldwide, with the goal of slowing progression of Geographic Atrophy.
about Coherus Biosciences >>
Coherus BioSciences, Inc. is committed to expanding patient access to cost-effective, lifesaving medicines and delivering significant savings to the U.S. healthcare system. Founded a decade ago with a focus on providing the highest quality biosimilar treatments, our team is deeply experienced in analytical and process sciences, clinical development, and regulatory affairs, with proven commercial capabilities. Building on our success with biosimilars, we are expanding our product portfolio to novel
therapies.
about Iveric Bio >>
Iveric Bio, An Astellas Company, is a science-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for retinal diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The Company is committed to having a positive impact on patients’ lives by delivering high-quality, safe and effective treatments designed to address debilitating retinal diseases including earlier stages of age-related macular degeneration. For more information on the Company, please visit www.ivericbio.com.
about LumiThera >>
LumiThera, Inc. is a medical device company commercializing a multi-wavelength instrument for the ophthalmologist’s office that improves vision and slows the progression of vision loss in patients with degenerative eye disease. The Company’s focus to date has been on the treatment of patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The Company has significant expertise in the use of Photobiomodulation (PBM), which is the use of light therapy to stimulate cells using light emitting diodes (LEDs) of selected wavelengths.
about Ocuphire Pharma >>
Ocuphire Pharma is a clinical-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of refractive and retinal eye disorders.
Nyxol is being developed for several indications including pharmacologically-induced mydriasis, presbyopia, and dim light or night vision disturbances. Nyxol is an investigational 505(b)(2) product candidate that has been studied in over 650 subjects across 12 completed Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials.
Our second product candidate, APX3330, is a twice-a-day oral tablet designed to inhibit angiogenesis and inflammation pathways relevant to retinal and choroidal vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
about Outlook Therapeutics >>
Outlook Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company working to develop and launch ONS-5010/ LYTENAVA™ (bevacizumab-vikg) as the first FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in retinal indications, including wet AMD, DME and BRVO. If ONS-5010 ophthalmic bevacizumab is approved, Outlook Therapeutics expects to commercialize it as the first and only FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in treating retinal diseases in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and other markets. Outlook Therapeutics expects to submit ONS-5010 ophthalmic bevacizumab to the U.S. FDA as a BLA under the PHSA 351(a) regulatory pathway.
about REGENXBIO >>
REGENXBIO Inc. 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 functional genes, enabling the production of therapeutic proteins or antibodies that are intended to impact disease. Through a single administration, gene therapy has the potential to provide long-lasting effects and improved patient outcomes. We have developed a broad pipeline of gene therapy programs using our NAV® Technology Platform. We believe this platform forms a strong foundation for our current programs, and with our ongoing research and development, we expect to continue to expand the platform.
about SparingVision >>
SparingVision is a clinical-stage genomic medicines company with a mission to translate pioneering science into vision saving treatments. Leveraging its unparalleled understanding of retinal diseases, SparingVision has built the world’s most compelling portfolio of synergistic cutting-edge gene therapy and genome editing treatments for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Both of its most advanced products, SPVN06 and SPVN20 look to go beyond single gene correction therapies to deliver new gene-independent treatments for Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a group of IRDs which are the leading cause of blindness globally. The Company also has a strategic collaboration with Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NTLA) to develop novel genome editing-based treatments for ocular diseases utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
about Valitor >>
Valitor is conquering limitations of established drug targets by leveraging its multivalent polymer (MVP) technology to maximize benefits for patients. Using the MVP platform, multiple copies of bioactive molecules can be combined with individual biopolymer chains to create novel macromolecular entities that are engineered to overcome a multitude of specific challenges for their target bioactive molecules and indications. The resulting MVP compounds are designed to overcome specific drug design challenges, including optimized pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties, tissue localization, therapeutic durability, and safety. Accordingly, the company’s lead program, a novel anti-VEGF antibody treatment for wet AMD, is positioned to overcome long-standing drug development challenges with the potential of enabling reliable twice-yearly treatment for most if not all patients. This lead program is nearing IND-enabling studies. Valitor has designed its MVP platform with interchangeable bioactive molecules and biopolymers, which enables accelerated development of additional product candidates. Thus, Valitor can leverage validated clinical mechanisms to generate new compounds optimized to treat additional indications in ophthalmology, thereby de-risking the company’s pipeline expansion.
about Aviceda Therapeutics >>
Aviceda is a private late clinical-stage biotechnology company located in Cambridge, MA, with a proprietary HALOS™ nanotechnology platform and an ophthalmic lead product, AVD-104, for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AVD-104 is an intravitreal nanoparticle molecule with a unique dual mechanism of action for the treatment of GA through its modulation of critical inflammatory pathways: 1) Direct inhibition of the activity of damaging phagocytic macrophages and repolarization of activated macrophages to their resolution state, and 2) inhibition of complement cascade amplification. AVD-104 has demonstrated robust in-vitro/vivo efficacy with inhibition of both inflammatory & complement pathways and the potential for every 3- to 6-month dosing. Outstanding safety has been demonstrated in multiple animal models, including non-human primates, in which no signs of intraocular inflammation were seen. In addition, AVD-104 has demonstrated anti-neovascular activity equivalent to that of aflibercept (Eylea) in a well-established ocular CNV model. SIGLEC Phase 2/3 clinical trial is currently enrolling in US for GA.
Along with AVD-104, Aviceda has a broad pipeline of products in development in ophthalmology and multiple other therapeutic areas, including neurology, oncology, fibrosis, and immunology.
about EyePoint Pharmaceuticals >>
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ:EYPT), is a company committed to developing and commercializing therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with serious eye disorders. The Company’s pipeline leverages its proprietary erodible Durasert E TM technology for sustained intraocular drug delivery including EYP-1901, an investigational sustained delivery intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.
about jCyte >>
jCyte is in late-stage development of a first-in-class allogeneic cell therapy for retinitis pigmentosa. The treatment is a minimally-invasive intravitreal injection than can be performed with topical anesthetic.
about Ocular Therapeutix >>
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCUL) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the formulation, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye using its proprietary bioresorbable hydrogel-based formulation technology. Our robust product pipeline positions Ocular Therapeutix to become a leader in the ophthalmic space due to our ability to create drug delivery solutions that reduce the complexity and burden of the current standard of care by developing sustained release alternatives. With a focus on advancing our products through to Phase 3 clinical trials, our intention is to develop a commercially viable portfolio to overcome the issues of patient compliance and adherence by providing means of more consistent and reliable drug dosing for better patient outcomes.
about Ophthorobotics >>
Ophthorobotics is a swiss ophthalmic start up focusing on robotic-assisted intra-vitreal injections. Our robotic system is designed to be the first remotely 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 university in Zurich.
about Ray Therapeutics >>
Ray Therapeutics Inc (RayTx) is a late-stage preclinical Bay Area biotechnology company pioneering the first-to-market precision optogenetic therapy for vision restoration that is highly active in ambient lighting (and will not require light-enhancing goggles). Our studies have shown for the first time that our proprietary ChRown optogenetic protein can restore high levels of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual field.
RayTx lead asset, RTx-015, is expected to address the huge unmet medical in people suffering from many forms of retinal blindness (independent of the underlying genetic cause), including those with advanced age-related macular degeneration. RayTx has partnered with a world-leading AAV gene therapy manufacturer is utilizing their proprietary commercial manufacturing process and analytics to maximally de-risk clinical development. RayTx anticipates clinical trials will begin by the end of 2023 in our initial indication, retinitis pigmentosa.
about RetinAI Medical AG >>
RetinAI is a Swiss & US-based software company improving and supporting R&D of first-in-human drug candidates, supercharging management and oversight of clinical trials and enabling the research needed to elevate the quality of care on patients with eye diseases.
We achieve this goal by building tools to collect, analyze and to organize health data. Our fundamental belief is that in the future every patient will use drugs alongside a digital application that will enable them and their physicians to better assess the right drug, in the right amount and the right frequency for patients.
about Stealth BioTherapeutics >>
Stealth BioTherapeutics is an innovative biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to treat mitochondrial dysfunction associated with genetic mitochondrial diseases and common diseases of aging. Our team works with patients and advocacy organizations to better understand their journey with mitochondrial disease and raise awareness of the unmet need our programs seek to address.
about Clearside Biomedical >>
Clearside Biomedical, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company revolutionizing the delivery of therapies to the back of the eye through the suprachoroidal space (SCS®). Clearside’s SCS injection platform, utilizing the Company’s proprietary SCS Microinjector®, enables an in-office, repeatable, non-surgical procedure for the targeted and compartmentalized delivery of a wide variety of therapies to the macula, retina, or choroid to potentially preserve and improve vision in patients with sight-threatening eye diseases. Clearside is developing its own pipeline of small molecule product candidates for administration via its SCS Microinjector. The Company’s lead program, CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension), for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), is in Phase 2 clinical testing. Clearside developed and gained approval for its first product, XIPERE® (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) for suprachoroidal use, which is available in the U.S. through a commercial partner. Clearside also strategically partners its SCS injection platform with companies utilizing other ophthalmic therapeutic innovations.
about Galimedix Therapeutics >>
The biotech Company Galimedix Therapeutics is a leader in the development of drugs targeting neurodegenerative diseases of the retina and the brain which are associated with protein misfolding.
Galimedix` lead compound GAL-101 is a proprietary amyloid beta aggregation modulator fighting the toxic amyloid beta species responsible for retinal neurodegeneration in dry AMD and glaucoma. A clinical Phase 2 study with GAL-101 eyedrops and a Phase 1 study with GAL-101 oral capsules for patient-friendly treatment of dry AMD is currently under preparation. A similar compound, GAL-201, is under development for oral Alzheimer treatment.
about Lineage Cell Therapeutics >>
Lineage Cell Therapeutics (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX): From Promise to People - Our mission is to help pioneer a new branch of medicine based on the directed differentiation and transplant of allogeneic cells to patients.
For more information, please visit www.lineagecell.com or follow the company on Twitter @LineageCell.
about Oculis >>
Oculis (Nasdaq: OCS) is a global biopharmaceutical company purposefully driven to save sight and improve eye care. Oculis’ highly differentiated clinical-stage pipeline comprises multiple innovative product candidates in development for eye diseases of high unmet need. It includes OCS-01 eye drops, a topical candidate in Phase 3 development for diabetic macular edema (DME) and inflammation and pain following ocular surgery; OCS-02 eye drops, a topical biologic candidate in Phase 2 development for dry eye disease (DED) and uveitis; and OCS-05, a disease modifying candidate for acute optic neuritis (AON) and other neuro-ophthalmic disorders, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, geographic atrophy, and neurotrophic keratitis. The first in-patient, proof-of-concept trial with OCS-05 is currently ongoing in France. Headquartered in Switzerland and with operations in the US, Europe, and China, Oculis’ goal is to deliver life-changing eye treatments to patients worldwide. The company is led by an experienced management team with a successful track record in the pharmaceutical industry, supported by leading international healthcare investors.
about Opthea >>
Opthea (Nasdaq: OPT; ASX:OPT) is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to address the unmet need in the treatment of highly prevalent and progressive retinal diseases, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Opthea’s lead product candidate OPT-302, is a first-in-class VEGF-C/D ‘trap’ being developed for use in combination with anti-VEGF-A monotherapies to achieve broader inhibition of the VEGF family, with the goal of improving overall efficacy and demonstrating superior vision gains over that which can be achieved by inhibiting VEGF-A alone. Opthea has completed a 366-patient Phase 2b clinical trial for the treatment of wet AMD in which OPT-302 administered in combination with the VEGF-A inhibitor Lucentis® (ranibizumab) demonstrated superiority in visual acuity gain compared to Lucentis® administered alone. Opthea is currently recruiting patients into two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials, ShORe and COAST, with completion of patient recruitment expected as early as December 2023.
about REGENERON >>
Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for serious diseases. Founded and led for over 30 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development.
about Re-Vana Therapeutics >>
Re-Vana Therapeutics is a pioneering ocular drug delivery and therapeutic company focused on developing the world’s first sustained-release large molecule biologics to treat serious eye diseases. Our innovative platform technologies, EyeLief®, EyeLief SD™, and OcuLief®, enable the efficient delivery of biologics and small molecules, expanding global treatment opportunities. With a multi-billion-dollar market segment, our non-surgical approach offers a significant advantage over traditional treatments. Re-Vana Therapeutics has created a set of exceptional photo-crosslinked biodegradable technologies, including EyeLief, EyeLief SD, and OcuLief, that can deliver biologics and small drugs to the eye for an extended period of 6 months to 2 years. EyeLief and EyeLief-SD undergo photo-crosslinking before being inserted into the eye. In contrast, OcuLief is a distinctive gel that transforms into an implant after insertion into the vitreous and is then photo-crosslinked in situ; our proprietary photo-crosslinking process is completed using a straightforward visible light pulsed device. INVESTMENT After raising $3.25 million in a pre-Series A round in 2020, Re-Vana successfully closed a Series A round worth $11.9 million in November 2022. Leading US ophthalmic-focused venture capitalists, Visionary Ventures, ExSight Ventures, and InFocus Capital, as well as UK investors and a major corporate investor, participated in this round. A Series B is planned Q1 2024.
about Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics >>
Vitreous Digital Transformation (VitreoDx) is a central pillar of Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics’ mission to develop transformative innovations to prevent and halt vision loss, in patients with macular degeneration. At Twenty/Twenty we turn practical research into technologies that offer individuals more control over one of the most vital senses – their eyesight. Our innovations accelerate positive outcomes by improving insights to treatment between office visits. Our mandate is to turn practical research into technologies that directly solve patient needs. That means ensuring our intuitive products and therapies reach the patient. Removing barriers to access is a key component, so wherever existing methods and technology do not meet our needs, we are inventing new approaches. Twenty/Twenty was conceived for an era that demands better problem solving, unique ways to collaborate, and the open exchange of knowledge. Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics is a joint venture between Verily Life Sciences, an Alphabet company, and Santen Pharmaceutical, a leading Japanese ophthalmology company. Here, Santen’s global ophthalmology business platform unites with Verily’s developmental science expertise to create and commercialize unique devices that transform eye care. It’s a partnership that offers the long-term vision and funding that major advances demand. This commitment allows us to explore new approaches, rethink existing knowledge, and enlist new technologies to advance the work being done by medical professionals to treat eye conditions.
Apellis is a global biopharmaceutical company that leverages courageous science, creativity, and compassion to lead the development of therapies that target the complement system. Apellis is committed to addressing the unmet medical needs of patients and eye care professionals worldwide, with the goal of slowing progression of Geographic Atrophy.
Aviceda Therapeutics is a private company located in Cambridge MA with a proprietary nano-technology HALOS platform (High Affinity Ligands of Siglecs) with IND-ready ophthalmic lead product for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to dry AMD (dAMD).
Clearside Biomedical, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company revolutionizing the delivery of therapies to the back of the eye through the suprachoroidal space (SCS®). Clearside’s SCS injection platform, utilizing the Company’s proprietary SCS Microinjector®, enables an in-office, repeatable, non-surgical procedure for the targeted and compartmentalized delivery of a wide variety of therapies to the macula, retina, or choroid to potentially preserve and improve vision in patients with sight-threatening eye diseases. Clearside is developing its own pipeline of small molecule product candidates for administration via its SCS Microinjector. The Company’s lead program, CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension), for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), is in Phase 2 clinical testing. Clearside developed and gained approval for its first product, XIPERE® (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) for suprachoroidal use, which is available in the U.S. through a commercial partner. Clearside also strategically partners its SCS injection platform with companies utilizing other ophthalmic therapeutic innovations.
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ:EYPT), is a company committed to developing and commercializing therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with serious eye disorders. The Company’s pipeline leverages its proprietary erodible Durasert E TM technology for sustained intraocular drug delivery including EYP-1901, an investigational sustained delivery intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.
The biotech Company Galimedix Therapeutics is a leader in the development of drugs targeting neurodegenerative diseases of the retina and the brain which are associated with protein misfolding.
Galimedix` lead compound GAL-101 is a proprietary amyloid beta aggregation modulator fighting the toxic amyloid beta species responsible for retinal neurodegeneration in dry AMD and glaucoma. A clinical Phase 2 study with GAL-101 eyedrops and a Phase 1 study with GAL-101 oral capsules for patient-friendly treatment of dry AMD is currently under preparation. A similar compound, GAL-201, is under development for oral Alzheimer treatment.
Iveric Bio is a science-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for retinal diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The Company is committed to having a positive impact on patients’ lives by delivering high-quality, safe and effective treatments designed to address debilitating retinal diseases including earlier stages of age-related macular degeneration.
jCyte is in late-stage development of a first-in-class allogeneic cell therapy for retinitis pigmentosa. The treatment is a minimally-invasive intravitreal injection than can be performed with topical anesthetic.
Lineage Cell Therapeutics (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX): From Promise to People - Our mission is to help pioneer a new branch of medicine based on the directed differentiation and transplant of allogeneic cells to patients.
For more information, please visit www.lineagecell.com or follow the company on Twitter @LineageCell.
LumiThera, Inc. is a medical device company commercializing a multi-wavelength instrument for the ophthalmologist’s office that improves vision and slows the progression of vision loss in patients with degenerative eye disease. The Company’s focus to date has been on the treatment of patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The Company has significant expertise in the use of Photobiomodulation (PBM), which is the use of light therapy to stimulate cells using light emitting diodes (LEDs) of selected wavelengths.
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCUL) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the formulation, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye using its proprietary bioresorbable hydrogel-based formulation technology. Our robust product pipeline positions Ocular Therapeutix to become a leader in the ophthalmic space due to our ability to create drug delivery solutions that reduce the complexity and burden of the current standard of care by developing sustained release alternatives. With a focus on advancing our products through to Phase 3 clinical trials, our intention is to develop a commercially viable portfolio to overcome the issues of patient compliance and adherence by providing means of more consistent and reliable drug dosing for better patient outcomes.
Oculis (Nasdaq: OCS) is a global biopharmaceutical company purposefully driven to save sight and improve eye care. Oculis’ highly differentiated clinical-stage pipeline comprises multiple innovative product candidates in development for eye diseases of high unmet need. It includes OCS-01 eye drops, a topical candidate in Phase 3 development for diabetic macular edema (DME) and inflammation and pain following ocular surgery; OCS-02 eye drops, a topical biologic candidate in Phase 2 development for dry eye disease (DED) and uveitis; and OCS-05, a disease modifying candidate for acute optic neuritis (AON) and other neuro-ophthalmic disorders, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, geographic atrophy, and neurotrophic keratitis. The first in-patient, proof-of-concept trial with OCS-05 is currently ongoing in France. Headquartered in Switzerland and with operations in the US, Europe, and China, Oculis’ goal is to deliver life-changing eye treatments to patients worldwide. The company is led by an experienced management team with a successful track record in the pharmaceutical industry, supported by leading international healthcare investors.
Ocuphire Pharma is a clinical-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of refractive and retinal eye disorders.
Nyxol is being developed for several indications including pharmacologically-induced mydriasis, presbyopia, and dim light or night vision disturbances. Nyxol is an investigational 505(b)(2) product candidate that has been studied in over 650 subjects across 12 completed Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials.
Our second product candidate, APX3330, is a twice-a-day oral tablet designed to inhibit angiogenesis and inflammation pathways relevant to retinal and choroidal vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
Ophthorobotics is a swiss ophthalmic start up focusing on robotic-assisted intra-vitreal injections. Our robotic system is designed to be the first remotely 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 university in Zurich.
Opthea (Nasdaq: OPT; ASX:OPT) is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to address the unmet need in the treatment of highly prevalent and progressive retinal diseases, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Opthea’s lead product candidate OPT-302, is a first-in-class VEGF-C/D ‘trap’ being developed for use in combination with anti-VEGF-A monotherapies to achieve broader inhibition of the VEGF family, with the goal of improving overall efficacy and demonstrating superior vision gains over that which can be achieved by inhibiting VEGF-A alone. Opthea has completed a 366-patient Phase 2b clinical trial for the treatment of wet AMD in which OPT-302 administered in combination with the VEGF-A inhibitor Lucentis® (ranibizumab) demonstrated superiority in visual acuity gain compared to Lucentis® administered alone. Opthea is currently recruiting patients into two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials, ShORe and COAST, with completion of patient recruitment expected as early as December 2023.
Outlook Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company working to develop and launch ONS-5010/ LYTENAVA™ (bevacizumab-vikg) as the first FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in retinal indications, including wet AMD, DME and BRVO. If ONS-5010 ophthalmic bevacizumab is approved, Outlook Therapeutics expects to commercialize it as the first and only FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in treating retinal diseases in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and other markets. Outlook Therapeutics expects to submit ONS-5010 ophthalmic bevacizumab to the U.S. FDA as a BLA under the PHSA 351(a) regulatory pathway.
Ray Therapeutics Inc (RayTx) is a late-stage preclinical Bay Area biotechnology company pioneering the first-to-market precision optogenetic therapy for vision restoration that is highly active in ambient lighting (and will not require light-enhancing goggles). Our studies have shown for the first time that our proprietary ChRown optogenetic protein can restore high levels of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual field.
RayTx lead asset, RTx-015, is expected to address the huge unmet medical in people suffering from many forms of retinal blindness (independent of the underlying genetic cause), including those with advanced age-related macular degeneration. RayTx has partnered with a world-leading AAV gene therapy manufacturer is utilizing their proprietary commercial manufacturing process and analytics to maximally de-risk clinical development. RayTx anticipates clinical trials will begin by the end of 2023 in our initial indication, retinitis pigmentosa.
Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for serious diseases. Founded and led for over 30 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development.
REGENXBIO Inc. 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 functional genes, enabling the production of therapeutic proteins or antibodies that are intended to impact disease. Through a single administration, gene therapy has the potential to provide long-lasting effects and improved patient outcomes. We have developed a broad pipeline of gene therapy programs using our NAV® Technology Platform. We believe this platform forms a strong foundation for our current programs, and with our ongoing research and development, we expect to continue to expand the platform.
RetinAI is a Swiss & US-based software company improving and supporting R&D of first-in-human drug candidates, supercharging management and oversight of clinical trials and enabling the research needed to elevate the quality of care on patients with eye diseases.
We achieve this goal by building tools to collect, analyze and to organize health data. Our fundamental belief is that in the future every patient will use drugs alongside a digital application that will enable them and their physicians to better assess the right drug, in the right amount and the right frequency for patients.
Re-Vana Therapeutics is a pioneering ocular drug delivery and therapeutic company focused on developing the world’s first sustained-release large molecule biologics to treat serious eye diseases. Our innovative platform technologies, EyeLief®, EyeLief SD™, and OcuLief®, enable the efficient delivery of biologics and small molecules, expanding global treatment opportunities. With a multi-billion-dollar market segment, our non-surgical approach offers a significant advantage over traditional treatments. Re-Vana Therapeutics has created a set of exceptional photo-crosslinked biodegradable technologies, including EyeLief, EyeLief SD, and OcuLief, that can deliver biologics and small drugs to the eye for an extended period of 6 months to 2 years. EyeLief and EyeLief-SD undergo photo-crosslinking before being inserted into the eye. In contrast, OcuLief is a distinctive gel that transforms into an implant after insertion into the vitreous and is then photo-crosslinked in situ; our proprietary photo-crosslinking process is completed using a straightforward visible light pulsed device. INVESTMENT After raising $3.25 million in a pre-Series A round in 2020, Re-Vana successfully closed a Series A round worth $11.9 million in November 2022. Leading US ophthalmic-focused venture capitalists, Visionary Ventures, ExSight Ventures, and InFocus Capital, as well as UK investors and a major corporate investor, participated in this round. A Series B is planned Q1 2024.
SparingVision is a clinical-stage genomic medicines company with a mission to translate pioneering science into vision saving treatments. Leveraging its unparalleled understanding of retinal diseases, SparingVision has built the world’s most compelling portfolio of synergistic cutting-edge gene therapy and genome editing treatments for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Both of its most advanced products, SPVN06 and SPVN20 look to go beyond single gene correction therapies to deliver new gene-independent treatments for Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a group of IRDs which are the leading cause of blindness globally. The Company also has a strategic collaboration with Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NTLA) to develop novel genome editing-based treatments for ocular diseases utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
Stealth BioTherapeutics is an innovative biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to treat mitochondrial dysfunction associated with genetic mitochondrial diseases and common diseases of aging. Our team works with patients and advocacy organizations to better understand their journey with mitochondrial disease and raise awareness of the unmet need our programs seek to address.
Vitreous Digital Transformation (VitreoDx) is a central pillar of Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics’ mission to develop transformative innovations to prevent and halt vision loss, in patients with macular degeneration. At Twenty/Twenty we turn practical research into technologies that offer individuals more control over one of the most vital senses – their eyesight. Our innovations accelerate positive outcomes by improving insights to treatment between office visits. Our mandate is to turn practical research into technologies that directly solve patient needs. That means ensuring our intuitive products and therapies reach the patient. Removing barriers to access is a key component, so wherever existing methods and technology do not meet our needs, we are inventing new approaches. Twenty/Twenty was conceived for an era that demands better problem solving, unique ways to collaborate, and the open exchange of knowledge. Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics is a joint venture between Verily Life Sciences, an Alphabet company, and Santen Pharmaceutical, a leading Japanese ophthalmology company. Here, Santen’s global ophthalmology business platform unites with Verily’s developmental science expertise to create and commercialize unique devices that transform eye care. It’s a partnership that offers the long-term vision and funding that major advances demand. This commitment allows us to explore new approaches, rethink existing knowledge, and enlist new technologies to advance the work being done by medical professionals to treat eye conditions.
Valitor is conquering limitations of established drug targets by leveraging its multivalent polymer (MVP) technology to maximize benefits for patients. Using the MVP platform, multiple copies of bioactive molecules can be combined with individual biopolymer chains to create novel macromolecular entities that are engineered to overcome a multitude of specific challenges for their target bioactive molecules and indications. The resulting MVP compounds are designed to overcome specific drug design challenges, including optimized pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties, tissue localization, therapeutic durability, and safety. Accordingly, the company’s lead program, a novel anti-VEGF antibody treatment for wet AMD, is positioned to overcome long-standing drug development challenges with the potential of enabling reliable twice-yearly treatment for most if not all patients. This lead program is nearing IND-enabling studies. Valitor has designed its MVP platform with interchangeable bioactive molecules and biopolymers, which enables accelerated development of additional product candidates. Thus, Valitor can leverage validated clinical mechanisms to generate new compounds optimized to treat additional indications in ophthalmology, thereby de-risking the company’s pipeline expansion.