Allovir Inc., which has struggled since late last December, will merge with privately held Kalaris Therapeutics Inc. to develop therapies for treating neovascular and exudative retinal diseases. Kalaris already has an anti-VEGF treatment in a phase I study with a data readout set for the third quarter of 2025. Once the deal closes, the combined company name will be Kalaris Therapeutics Inc. and shares will trade on Nasdaq as KLRS. The new company said it plans to drive development of TH-103 for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. The phase I study is for treatment of nAMD.
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common hereditary degenerative eye disease that leads to progressive vision loss, primarily caused by retinal degeneration.
Ring Therapeutics Inc. has joined forces with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology, and Research and with the Singapore Eye Research Institute to advance the first new class of viral vectors in more than 50 years, Ring CEO Tuyen Ong told BioWorld.
The nearer-looming threat of a biosimilar from Amgen Inc. to heavyweight Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s age-related macular degeneration (AMD) VEGF therapy, Eylea (aflibercept), along with other issues, pressured shares of the latter (NASDAQ:REGN) since reporting third-quarter earnings Oct 31. But Wall Street pundits are not altogether aligned on how serious the scenario might be. After the earnings update, Regeneron’s stock fell 12%, from $925 to $819.96, and closed Nov. 1 at $843.60, up $5.40.
In what represents the first patenting from Eyecheq Inc., the company is seeking protection for its self-guided eye examination systems which may be mounted in easily movable and transportable kiosks, on tabletop stands, walls or suspended from ceilings.
Astellas Pharma Inc. has withdrawn its marketing authorization application from the EMA for its avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration. “The company's decision to withdraw its application followed interactions” with the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, an Astellas spokesperson told BioWorld.
Mutations in the BBS10 gene are the second most common cause of Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). Researchers from Meiragtx Ltd. aimed to optimize and identify an AAV vector carrying the human (h)BBS10 gene, obtaining sustained efficacy as well as good safety for clinical translation for the treatment of BBS.
Grifols SA has entered into a partnership with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to test investigational ocular surface immunoglobulin (OSIG) eye drops for their ability to treat ocular damage from sulfur mustard exposure.
Shanghai Meiyue Biotech Development Co. Ltd. has synthesized spiro compounds acting as complement factor B (CFB) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, glomerulonephritis, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, membranous nephropathy, myasthenia gravis, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, diabetic retinopathy and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
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