Drug Farm Biotechnology Co. Ltd. closed a $55 million series D round to advance its AI-developed alpha-protein kinase 1 (ALPK1) inhibitor, DF-003, in a phase III trial for ROSAH syndrome, a rare genetic disease that can lead to blindness.
Atsena Therapeutics Inc. has selected a lead clinical candidate for ATSN-401, a gene therapy for Stargardt disease. ATSN-401 is now advancing in IND-enabling studies.
Beijing Jingwei-Yankang Biomedical Co. Ltd. has reported new phenyl-substituted heterocyclic compounds acting as retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) inhibitors with potential in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Opus Genetics Inc. has secured U.S. FDA alignment on an eight-patient phase III trial of its lead gene therapy, OPGx-LCA5, for an ultra-rare form of inherited childhood blindness.
Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated that retinal endothelial cells (RECs) generated from human pluripotent stem cells can restore retinal vascularization in a preclinical model of ischemic retinal injury.
The oversubscribed $330 million series B round secured by Ollin Biosciences Inc. marks more than another large venture round in ophthalmology. It also highlights an emerging biotech financing model in which Chinese pharma companies discover and clinically validate promising drugs before handing global development to well-capitalized U.S. startups backed by blue-chip venture investors.
With the U.S. FDA go-ahead granted June 26 for Viridian Therapeutics Inc.’s IGF-1R antagonist Lumvoa (veligrotug-vvze, or “veli”) as a new thyroid eye disease (TED) therapy – due to launch immediately, the company said – Wall Street will be watching near-term payer dynamics. The drug is set to take on similarly targeted Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw), owned by Amgen Inc. and approved in January 2020 to treat TED.
Viridian Therapeutics Inc.’s U.S. FDA clearance of Lumvoa (veligrotug-vvze) to treat thyroid eye disease (TED) includes labeling for chronic as well as active forms, and fewer infusions – plus fast, durable effects – should give the IGF-1R antagonist leverage in competing with similarly targeted TED drug Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw), owned by Amgen Inc. and approved in January 2020.
The oversubscribed $330 million series B round secured by Ollin Biosciences Inc. marks more than another large venture round in ophthalmology. It also highlights an emerging biotech financing model in which Chinese pharma companies discover and clinically validate promising drugs before handing global development to well-capitalized U.S. startups backed by blue-chip venture investors.
Lu-AG-22515, also known as velaprumig, is a recombinant fusion protein that targets CD40 ligand (CD40L) and human serum albumin (HSA), thereby blocking the binding between CD40 and CD40L, a known signaling pathway involved in several autoimmune diseases. Researchers at H. Lundbeck A/S evaluated the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of Lu-AG-22515 in cynomolgus monkeys, as well as the impact of its inhibitory effect in the preclinical setting of thyroid eye disease (TED).
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