The classic origin story for a biotech startup is that of a scientist who nurtures his work out of a university and to commercial success. For Link Biologics Ltd. and its TSG6-based pipeline, the story is the other way around; it began with now-CEO Reuben Dawkins meeting University of Manchester scientists Tony Day and Caroline Milner while he was on the lookout for “great science that needs help to make it to patients.” The three are now co-founders of Link, which spun out of the University of Manchester in 2021 and has four programs in three indications, all based on TSG-6 biology.

After previous setbacks with the program, investors largely brushed aside ocular-focused Kodiak Sciences Inc.’s anticipated phase III Glow2 data of tarcocimab tedromer in diabetic retinopathy (DR), so the positive top-line superiority results revealed March 26 caught many by surprise as it sets the company up for an accelerated multi-indication BLA submission.

Ocular Therapeutix Inc.’s wet age-macular degeneration candidate, Axpaxli, beat anti-VEGF therapy Eylea (aflibercept) from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the phase III head-to-head trial called Sol-1, but not by enough of a margin for Wall Street. Shares of the firm (NASDAQ:OCUL) closed Feb. 17 at $6.99, down $1.89, or 21%, as investors mulled the top-line findings.

Fannin Partners LLC has been awarded a $300,000 phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to advance a first-in-class, non-VEGF-targeted therapeutic for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients not responding to anti-VEGF therapies.

Ollin Biosciences Inc. is gearing up for global phase III trials this year after disclosing favorable top-line results from its randomized, head-to-head phase Ib Jade study comparing OLN-324, a next-generation VEGF/Ang2 bispecific antibody, to Vabysmo (faricimab, Roche AG), which takes aim at the same targets. The drugs were tested in more than 160 patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) or wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Receiving a third complete response letter (CRL) from the U.S. FDA for its bevacizumab formulation, ONS-5010, to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, Outlook Therapeutics Inc. watched its stock (NASDAQ:OTLK) plummet nearly 62% to a 52-week low of 60 cents on Jan. 2.

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 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.