Aussie gene therapy company Mirugen Pty Ltd. has emerged from stealth mode from the Center for Eye Research Australia in Melbourne, toting a AU$4.5 million (US$2.9 million) seed round that will see it optimize its lead candidate to treat retinitis pigmentosa.

Opus Genetics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the U.S. FDA application for OPGx-BEST1, a gene therapy for the treatment of bestrophin-1 (BEST1)-related inherited retinal disease (IRD).

Aussie gene therapy company Mirugen Pty Ltd. has emerged from stealth mode from the Center for Eye Research Australia in Melbourne, toting a AU$4.5 million (US$2.9 million) seed round that will see it optimize its lead candidate to treat retinitis pigmentosa.

With the U.S. FDA’s approval of Lenz Therapeutics Inc.’s Vizz (aceclidine ophthalmic solution), there is a third eye drop on the market for treating presbyopia. Vizz, however, is the first aceclidine-based eye drop for adults.

Valitor Inc. has presented preclinical results on VLTR-559, its long-acting anti-VEGF biologic candidate for durable wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). VLTR-559, developed using Valitor’s proprietary Multivalent Polymer (MVP) technology, demonstrated prolonged ocular retention and maintained high potency even after months in ocular tissues.

Ischemic retinopathy refers to a group of ocular disorders characterized by insufficient retinal blood flow, leading to hypoxia and subsequent retinal tissue damage. In the hypoxic environment, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) activates the transcription of pro-angiogenic factors that promote pathological retinal neovascularization, which ultimately contributes to edema, retinal damage and vision loss.