Three Orphan Drug Trials Planned by Ophthotech

Ophthotech Corporation expects to start new clinical trials of its Zimura C5 inhibitor for three new indications within the next year, CEO and president Glenn Sblendorio said at the OIS@AAO 2017 Public Device and Biopharma Company Showcase. Already, Phase IIa trials of Zimura for both wet and dry age-related macular degeneration are ongoing, he explained, but Ophthotech plans to expand Zimura into three orphan drug indications: Stargardt disease with a Phase IIb by the end of 2017; idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with a Phase IIa in the same time frame; and posterior uveitis with a Phase IIa in 2018. Ophthotech looks to end 2017 with $155 million to $165 million cash, with the next phase of Zimura programs to draw down between $25 million and $35 million, Sblendorio said