8:25 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
ACCELERATING LONGER LASTING, LESS INVASIVE & PRECISE RETINAL DRUG DELIVERY FOR IMPROVED PATIENT COMPLIANCE IN AGING POPULATION
8:30 am Delving Into the Next Generation of Ophthalmic Drug Delivery
Synopsis
- Understanding the latest advancements in surgical tools, catheters and active implant
- Obtaining insights into the design, development and manufacturing scale-up processes that transform these concepts into market-ready solutions
- Unlocking how AI/ML driven analytics are revolutionizing ophthalmic delivery
8:30 am Morning Refreshments & Check In
9:00 am Panel Discussion & Live Audience Q&A: Optimizing Drug Delivery to the Macula
Synopsis
- Exploring the implications of using topical solutions for dry AMD and GA considering the spread of disease across the retina
- Overcoming the hurdles of delivery of cell and gene therapies to understand how they can be improved to make delivery of protein therapeutics easier
- Exploring how oral therapeutic might be the answer to achieving non-invasive retinal delivery and equal exposure to both eyes at the same time
EXPLORING NOVEL TREATMENT MODALITIES TO REDUCE INJECTION FREQUENCY & RETINAL INFLAMMATION
9:30 am Novel Orally Administered Small Molecule (Xiflam) Targeting Auto- Inflammation in Patients with Intermediate AMD
Synopsis
- Understanding the pathological Cx43 hemichannel and its role in inflammasome mediated disease progression in intermediate AMD
- Clinically developing a novel oral therapy to inhibit the pathologically open Cx43 hemichannel to modulate ATP activation and perpetuation of the inflammasome.
- Sharing preclinical data showing the effect of Xiflam vs Placebo in maintaining retinal integrity and visual function, in a model of the Dry form of Macular Degeneration
10:00 am Morning Break
10:30 am Examining a Novel Fas Receptor Inhibitor for Dry AMD
Synopsis
- Discussing the pre-clinical data regarding the role of Fas in retinal disease and AMD
- Discussing the development of ONL1204, a novel inhibitor of the Fas receptor
- Discussing the results of the Phase 1 study of ONL1204 in patients with GA secondary to AMD and the upcoming Phase 2 trial
11:00 am Developing AI-based Strategies to Leverage Imaging & Functional Biomarkers in Patient Selection for Geography Atrophy Trials
Synopsis
- Discussing the pioneering work in developing OCT-based imaging and other diagnostic tools for more objective, faster biomarkers and functional endpoints
- Establishing the current endpoints for geographic atrophy, measuring the death of RPE and photoreceptor cells, predict lesion growths and functional outcomes for regulatory approvals
- Uncovering the recent advancements in imaging GA by using AI algorithms to measure the extent of dead photoreceptor and RPE cells and identifying the right patients for treatment in clinical trials
11:30 am Delving Into the Effect of Mitochondrial Stabilization on Oxidative Stress & How It Restores Retinal Homeostasis
Synopsis
- What is mitochondrial stabilization?
- Pre-clinical and clinical effects of mitochondrial stabilization
- Identifying target patient populations that are likely to respond to mitochondrial stabilization
12:00 pm Lunch & Networking Break
UTILIZING GENE AND CELL THERAPY TO MAINTAIN RPE HEALTH IN AGING PATIENT POPULATIONS
1:00 pm Discussing Innovative Approaches in Gene Therapy for AMD by Targeting Inflammation, Establishing Retinal Bio-Factories as Long- Lasting Solutions
Synopsis
- Exploring cutting-edge research in gene therapy targeting inflammatory pathways associated with the complement system dysregulation in AMD
- Discussing gene delivery vectors and viral vectors engineered to express therapeutic proteins locally in the retina, effectively turning it into a bio-factory
- Overcoming the challenge of frequent, invasive injections by developing long-lasting gene therapies as a once-and-done treatment for late-stage AMD
1:30 pm Advancements in Reprogramming iPSC-Derived Stem Cell Therapy to Replace & Restore Degenerated RPE Cells in Late-Stage AMD
Synopsis
- Exploring the latest advancements in using iPSCs to generate RPE cells for cell replacement therapy in late-stage AMD
- Discussing the process of reprogramming iPSCs into functional RPE cells and the challenges associated with ensuring their proper integration and functionality within the retina
- Presenting preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of iPSC-derived cell therapy in restoring retinal function and preserving vision in patients with advanced AMD
2:00 pm Afternoon Networking Break
2:30 pm Revolutionizing AMD Treatment: The Development of an Anti-inflammatory Nimvec-based Gene Therapy for Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration
Synopsis
- Delving into vectors that are safe by design, non-immunogenic & tolerogenic in humans, inducing long-term transgene expression and can be repeatedly administered to deliver the same or different transgenes to target tissues
- Analyzing gene replacement and immunotherapies options to treat genetic disorders and inflammatory/autoimmune diseases
- Combining effective protection of macular cells from pyroptosis with regeneration of the damaged macula, resulting in the restoration of central vision
3:00 pm Delivering Cell Replacement Therapy for Geographic Atrophy by Designing Precise & Specialized Formulations for Subretinal Injection
Synopsis
- Using subretinal delivery to locally deliver cell replacement therapy to disease area with atrophy around the macula
- Overcoming patient concerns related to subretinal delivery and addressing alternative less invasive delivery mechanisms
- Ensuring that the cell therapy is not lost due to high pressure when being delivered via subretinal injections
3:30 pm Fire-Side Chat: Discussing the Journey of Gaining Approval for GA Drugs & Current Challenges In the Market
Synopsis
- Discussing the path to gain approval for complement inhibitors for GA by the FDA and the rejections from the EMA
- Minimizing toxic side effects and reducing retinal inflammation when delivering via intravitreal injections
- Debating the optimal less invasive, longer lasting administration route to reduce frequence of injections for elderly patient population
- Understanding how the GA drug can be improved to stop disease progression and be used to treat intermediate AMD before disease reaches atrophic stage