Alcon AG plans to acquire Lumithera Inc., adding its photobiomodulation (PBM) device designed to treat early and intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to the Alcon portfolio. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The move continues Alcon’s strategic expansion in eye care, following on its recent acquisitions of Aurion Biotech Inc. and Lensar Inc.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Current treatments mainly address advanced AMD, while early or intermediate stages rely only on micronutrient supplements. This highlights a critical gap in understanding the molecular drivers of early dry AMD and the need for strategies to prevent progression to geographic atrophy or choroidal neovascularization and vision loss.
Inmed Pharmaceuticals Inc. has divulged cannabinoid CB1 and/or CB2 receptor modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of neurodegeneration and age-related macular degeneration.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of blindness in people aged 65 and older in developed nations. Recent estimates suggest that, globally, the number of individuals affected by AMD could rise to approximately 288 million by 2040.
Among the most significant genetic risk factors for age-related macular degeneration is the Y402H variant of complement factor H, which, along with its splice isoform FHL-1, impairs binding to the retinal surface.
ABI-201 is an engineered AAV.N54 vector that expresses a soluble CD59 variant and a complement 3 (C3) inhibitor fusion protein. ABI-201 was developed by Avirmax Biopharma Inc. to confer photoreceptor protection against retinal damage. The effects of ABI-201 were tested in a sodium iodate-induced retinal damage model in nonhuman primates, a widely used model for testing therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Another complete response letter from the U.S. FDA for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy Eylea (aflibercept) – along with disappointing sales of the VEGF inhibitor – dented shares (NASDAQ:REGN) by $41.95. They closed April 29 at $568.91, having traded as low as $542.44 during the day.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older adults. The exudative or ‘wet’ form of the disease is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels from the choroid into the subretinal space, known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV), leading to macular edema.
Avirmax Biopharma Inc. has begun IND-enabling studies of ABI-201, a gene therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). ABI-201 is an AAV vector that delivers three genes to correct the dysregulation of complement activation, to protect retinal pigment epithelia and photoreceptors, as well as to block retinal neovascularization.
Inmed Pharmaceuticals Inc. has selected an intravitreal (IVT) formulation for INM-089 as a drug candidate to be utilized in the company’s ongoing development program targeting the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
