Vascular dysfunction that causes leakage of plasma proteins such as fibrinogen, fibrin deposits and innate immune cell activation is the cause of neurodegenerative ocular diseases, including diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
Not long after Ocular Therapeutix Inc. unveiled positive phase I data in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy with Axpaxli (axitinib intravitreal implant), Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals Inc. offered less-sunny phase II data from the Pavia trial testing Duravyu (vorolanib intravitreal insert), previously known as EYP-1901, in the same indication.
Top-line phase II results of privately held Ocuterra Therapeutics Inc.’s novel selective small-molecule RGD integrin inhibitor, nesvategrast (OTT-166), showed it failed to meet primary and key secondary endpoints in patients with diabetic retinopathy, prompting the Boston-based company to seek strategic alternatives.
Starpax Biopharma Inc. files for further protection of its anticancer technology that uses magnetically steered bacteria to spread chemotherapy drugs throughout the volume of tumors. Its latest filing describes a method for preparing a subject for a medical intervention with magnetotactic bacteria tethered to treatment, imaging or diagnostic agents.
Korean bioventure Curacle Co. Ltd. reported positive top-line findings from its U.S.-based phase IIa study of CU06-1004, an oral drug for diabetic macular edema, spurring plans for a bigger phase IIb study in the second half of 2024.
Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic kidney disease are frequent microvascular complications of diabetes, both related to exacerbated vascular permeability coming from microvascular barrier malfunctioning.
Diabetic retinopathy is the main diabetes complication affecting the eyes, and it leads to irreversible vision loss; oxidative stress and impairment of the retinal Muller cells are among the pathogenic mechanisms. Chinese researchers presented data on adiporon, an agonist of the adiponectin receptor protein 1 (ADPOR1) and ADIPOR2 that plays a crucial role in the metabolism of lipids and glucose, in preclinical mouse models of diabetes induced by streptozotocin.
Hangzhou Yirui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. has described N-tetrazolyl aryl urea derivatives acting as bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, allergic conjunctivitis, pulmonary edema, neuralgia, infectious pneumonia, diabetic retinopathy, SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and uveitis.
On the heels of the U.S. FDA clearance for Veopoz (pozelimab-bbfg) from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. to treat Chaple disease, the regulatory rollercoaster ride for the firm’s bid with higher-dose Eylea (aflibercept) ended with a green light for that compound as well. Eylea HD is indicated for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy.
Golgi Neurosciences srl and Breye Therapeutics ApS have established a collaboration to develop Golgi’s P2X7 receptor antagonist program for retinal disorders. The companies have now closed the transfer of the P2X7 receptor antagonist program, which seeks to reduce nerve damage and inflammation in retinal disease and advance development of innovative oral small-molecule therapeutics for retinal disorders.
