Industry preview: Ophthalmic companies bring updates, new research findings to EURETINA

(Image credit: AdobeStock/Gennady Danilkin)

This year’s meeting of the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) will attract practitioners from around the globe to learn about the latest developments in the ophthalmic community. Major industry leaders and next-generation companies will also be present to showcase the business side of the retina sphere. Here, you’ll find some of the pre-show information released by ophthalmic technology and pharmaceutical companies ahead of the EURETINA Congress, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, 19-22 September.

In addition to the main conference programme, the EURETINA Innovation Spotlight (EIS) on Wednesday, 18 September will further highlight industry contributions. The lectures and panel discussions at the EIS feature industry leaders, executives, investors, regulators, biomedical engineers and practicing clinicians. Last year, the EIS launched in its first iteration at EURETINA in Amsterdam. According to EURETINA leadership, that inaugural EIS drew over 600 attendees, with more than 40 faculty participating in 30 presentations and panels. This year’s EIS promises even more informative programming as well as networking opportunities. Register for the EIS and find more information here.

The below industry previews are listed in alphabetical order (company name). This page may be updated as information is released prior to the EURETINA Congress.

4D Molecular Therapeutics

4D Molecular Therapeutics (4DMT) announced presentations pertaining to its novel gene therapies for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). At the Retina Society meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, the company presented results from the PRISM Phase 1/2 clinical trial, evaluating intravitreal 4D-150. During EURETINA, 4DMT will share recent findings in a presentation, as well as in an audio-narrated free paper. The free paper, titled "Randomised Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating 4D-150 in High-Need Patients with Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Interim 24-Week Results," is presented by Allen Hu, M.D., Cumberland Valley Retina Consultants, Hagerstown, MD.

Thursday, 19 September, 11:09-11:17 CEST

Update on Gene Therapy for neovascular AMD

Presented by Arshad M. Khanani, M.D., MA, FASRS, Managing Partner, Director of Clinical Research, Sierra Eye Associates, Reno, NV

The full press release from 4DMT is available on the company’s website.

Annexon

Annexon Biosciences will present analyses of its candidate ANX007, subject of the completed Phase 2 ARCHER trial. ANX007 is an antigen-binding fragment (Fab) antibody, designed to selectively inhibit C1q. It is the first therapeutic candidate for treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) to receive Priority Medicine designation in the European Union. Following presentation of Phase 2 ARCHER trial results related to preservation of photoreceptors and prevention of visual acuity loss at the Retina Society meeting, Annexon will feature a podium presentation, an e-poster and a sponsored symposium at EURETINA. The e-poster is titled “Effect of ANX007 on Protecting Central Macular Ellipsoid Zone and RPE and Association with Visual Acuity in the Phase 2 ARCHER GA Study” and is presented by Dr Paulo Eduardo Stanga of the Retina Clinic London and Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK.

Thursday, 19 September, 16:30 CEST

Preservation of Vision by ANX007 in Geographic Atrophy: Clinical Results from the Phase 2 ARCHER Trial

Presented by Dr Usha Chakravarthy, Royal Victoria Hospital (The Belfast Trust) and Queens University of Belfast, Northern Ireland

Saturday, 21 September, 13:00 CEST

Sponsored symposium: Protection of Vision and Structure in GA

Presenters include Dr Jeff Heier, Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, US and an investigator in ARCHER; Dr Usha Chakravarthy, Royal Victoria Hospital (The Belfast Trust) and Queens University of Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Dr Paulo Eduardo Stanga, The Retina Clinic London and Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK

More information, including the topics covered by each presenter at the symposium, is available on Annexon’s website.

ONL Therapeutics

ONL Therapeutics, Inc. will present clinical data at the EIS. The presentation will focus on ONL1204, a novel, first-in-class small molecule Fas inhibitor. ONL1204 is designed to protect photoreceptors and other key retinal cells, across a broad range of retinal pathologies. ONL Therapeutics' event at EIS follows two presentations at the recent Retina Society Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. Those presentations focused on ONL1204 for treatment of geographic atrophy (a Phase 1b study) and treatment of macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (a Phase 2 study). At EIS, the presentation will take place during the session addressing non-neovascular AMD and inherited retinal diseases

Wednesday, 18 September [EIS], 13:05-13:40 CEST

Targeting Fas Pathway: ONL Therapeutics’ Approach to Dry AMD

Presented by David N. Zacks, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan and Chief Scientific Officer, ONL Therapeutics

For more information, consult the ONL Therapeutics newsroom here.

Opthea

Opthea Limited will share presentations on sozinibercept, including insights into design of ongoing Phase 3 trials for wet AMD. Clinicians and executives will present during the EURETINA conference and the EIS which directly precedes the meeting. In addition, an audio narrated free paper will be on display throughout the conference. Titled “Intravitreal sozinibercept (anti-VEGF-C/-D ‘trap’) combined with ranibizumab for the treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: A predefined Phase 2b subgroup analysis,” it is presented by Professor Gemmy Cheung, FRCOphth, FAMS, MCI.

Wednesday, 18 September [EIS], 4:00-16:35 CEST

Sozinibercept in wet AMD: Potential for superior vision outcomes beyond anti-VEGF-A therapies

Presented by Frederic Guerard, PharmD, CEO

Thursday, 19 September, 12:00-13:00 CEST

VEGF-A/C/D inhibition with sozinibercept and ranibizumab combination therapy for nAMD: subgroup analysis of a Phase 2b trial to assess the angiographic predictors of response

Presented by Professor Timothy Jackson, PhD, MB, ChB, FRCOphth

Saturday, 21 September, 13:00-14:00 CEST

Lunch Symposium: Improving on the Standard of Care in nAMD: Addressing the VEGF-C and -D Pathways

Featured presenters include ​​Professors Arshad Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS; Adnan Tufail, MBBS, MD, FRCOphth; Anat Loewenstein, MD, MHA; Gemmy Cheung, FRCOphth, FAMS, MCI

Learn more about Opthea’s presence at EURETINA here.

ZEISS Meditec

Ahead of the EURETINA Congress, ZEISS Meditec debuted a website to showcase its Medical Ecosystem, the integrated ophthalmic workflow for seamless clinical management. That experience will be realised physically in an exhibit hall booth (Floor P1, Booth E3), set up to demonstrate the ZEISS Medical Ecosystem as it might appear in a clinical setting. The company will host two lunchtime symposia during the meeting.

Friday, 20 September, 13:45-14:45 CEST

Lunch Symposium: The crucial role of diagnostic imaging today and tomorrow

Featured presenters include Marion Munk, Ricardo Guerra, Giuseppe Querques and Katherine Talcott

Saturday, 21 September, 13:00-14:00 CEST

Lunch Symposium: Managing complicated cases in vitreoretinal surgery

Featured presenters include Peter Stalmans, Aude Couturier, Rodolfo Mastropasqua, Jeroni Nadal and Siegfried Priglinger

See the full ZEISS at EURETINA programme here.