SPONSORS
PREMIER SPONSOR
Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the world – from the moment of birth through every phase of life. Its comprehensive portfolio of more than 400 products includes contact lenses, lens care products, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products and ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Founded in 1853, Bausch + Lomb has a significant global research and development, manufacturing and commercial footprint with more than 12,000 employees and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Bausch + Lomb is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario with corporate offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.bausch.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
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 dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The Company’s focus to date has been on the treatment of patients with early/intermediate dry AMD. The Valeda Light Delivery System is the first FDA approved treatment that improves vision in dry AMD patients. 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.
Regeneron
Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for over 35 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases and rare diseases.
Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary VelociSuite technologies, such as VelocImmune®, which uses unique genetically humanized mice to produce optimized fully human antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center®, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world.
INNOVATION SPONSORS
ADARx Pharmaceuticals
We are a private clinical stage biotech company based in San Diego developing next generation RNA medicines for a number of therapeutic areas. We have developed a best in class small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to target the liver, allowing us to reliably downregulate liver proteins in the serum over 90% reduction from baseline, and lasting over 3 months with a single subcutaneous injection. We have 3 molecules currently in the clinic. Our lead program is a subcutaneously delivered siRNA against Complement factor B, which we are planning a Phase 2b study in GA starting later this year, as well as trials in Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and IgA Nephropathy to start this year. In addition, we are developing technologies to allow siRNAs to access extrahepatic tissues such as the CNS, muscle, fat, and the eye. Ophthalmology is one of 4 strategic focus areas of the company, with a focus on high prevalence retinal diseases (e.g. GA, retinal vascular diseases), utilizing both systemic subcutaneous as well as local IVT ROA. We have raised over $350 million from top tier investors.
Annexin Pharmaceuticals
Annexin Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company in clinical stage and a global leader in the Annexin A5 area. The company is listed at First North, Stockholm, and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals
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).
Ikarovec
Ikarovec is a leader in ophthalmology innovation, with a sophisticated field-changing technology for the long-term relief of prevalent eye diseases. The company’s flexible proprietary bicistronic gene therapy generates multiple synergistic therapeutic proteins where they are needed in the eye, bringing a differentiated approach to treating a range of large and growing ophthalmic disorders.
Its lead product, IKAR-001, (previously known as IKC159V) will proceed to a geographic atrophy clinical trial supported by studies showing preservation of cells critical for vision. GA leads to significant vision loss, affecting 5 million people worldwide. Current treatment options (only approved in the US) require regular injections directly into the eye. Ikarovec’s novel bicistronic gene therapy leads to the expression of two therapeutically relevant proteins, targeting multiple causes of the disease with a single injection which is expected to be disease modifying. Follow-on programmes are targeting wet age-related macular degeneration and other chronic poorly managed ophthalmic indications.
Ikarovec is directed by an international Board and management team with industry-leading ophthalmology and gene therapy expertise. This experience comes via Astellas, EyeBio, OXB (Oxford Biomedica), Spark Therapeutics and others. Ikarovec, which is based at Norwich Research Park, is backed by LifeArc Ventures, Parkwalk Advisors and UKI2S. More information at www.ikarovec.com and on LinkedIn.
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.
Oculis
Oculis is a global biopharmaceutical company (Nasdaq: OCS; XICE: OCS) purposefully driven to save sight and improve eye care. Oculis’ highly differentiated pipeline of multiple innovative product candidates in development includes: OCS-01, a topical eye drop candidate for diabetic macular edema (DME); Privosegtor (OCS-05), a neuroprotective candidate for acute optic neuritis with potentially broad clinical applications in other neuro-ophthalmic diseases and Licaminlimab (OCS-02), a topical biologic anti-TNFα eye drop candidate for 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.
Optigo Biotherapeutics
Optigo Biotherapeutics is a ophthalmology biotech company developing a proprietary platform designed to extend the half-life of intravitreal biologics by anchoring them to specific proteins in the eye. This approach enables sustained therapeutic presence and improved durability of effect, significantly reducing the frequency of intravitreal injections. Built on this platform, Optigo’s lead asset is a next-generation anti-VEGF therapy targeting the underlying drivers of blinding retinal diseases. By enhancing treatment longevity and addressing limitations of current standard-of-care therapies, Optigo aims to ease the burden on patients and caregivers while delivering meaningful, long-term improvements in vision outcomes. The platform’s modular design also offers potential applicability to other intravitreal biologics requiring extended half-life. To date the company has raised over $10 M in financing and is now raising $30 to move its lead asset into IND and Phase 1-2a Human clinical trials.
Outlook Therapeutics
Outlook Therapeutics is a pre-commercial 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. Outlook Therapeutics submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ONS-5010 to treat wet AMD on March 30, 2022. After conversations with the FDA about its filing, the Company has voluntarily withdrawn the BLA as it works to provide supplemental information that the FDA has requested. Outlook Therapeutics remains in active discussions with the FDA and expects to resubmit the BLA by September 2022. If ONS-5010 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, Greater China and other markets. Outlook Therapeutics’ BLA submission for ONS-5010 is as a new BLA under the PHSA 351(a) regulatory pathway.
If ONS-5010 is approved, the Company expects to commercialize it through best-in-class partnerships. To date, Outlook Therapeutics has manufacturing partnerships with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies and Ajinomoto Biopharma Services to provide product manufacturing in their best-in-class cGMP global manufacturing facilities.
Outlook Therapeutics has also executed a supply agreement for a best-in-class pre-filled ophthalmic syringe that will provide both ease-of-use for clinicians and add to ONS-5010’s potential safety profile over the current unapproved therapies that have caused problems related to syringe malfunction, contamination, etc.
Outlook Therapeutics intends to create goodwill and acceptance among payors, retinal specialists and patients by offering excellent value in an FDA-approved ONS-5010.
REGENXBIO
REGENXBIO is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to improve lives through the curative potential of gene therapy. Since its founding in 2009, REGENXBIO has pioneered the development of AAV Therapeutics, an innovative class of gene therapy medicines. REGENXBIO is advancing a pipeline of AAV Therapeutics for retinal and rare diseases, including ABBV-RGX-314 for the treatment of wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy, being developed in collaboration with AbbVie. Designed to be one-time treatments, AAV Therapeutics have the potential to change the way healthcare is delivered for millions of people.