7:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
8:00 am Panel Discussion – The Current Landscape of Dry AMD Therapeutics
Synopsis
- Reviewing complement inhibition as a means of treating dry AMD
- Outlining the promise of small molecule, cell therapy, stem cell therapy and gene therapy
- What is the earliest stage of AMD feasible for a clinical trial?
Reviewing the Progression of Dry AMD & Contributing Factors to Better Understand Where Treatment is Effective
8:30 am Identifying Genetic & Systemic Biomarkers for AMD Progression
Synopsis
- Value of genetics in predicting disease progression
- Identifying blood serum biomarkers
- Prediction models for AMD progression
9:00 am Center-Surround Model of AMD Progression – Precision Medicine at Scale
Synopsis
- 15 years of OCT guided anti-VEGF therapy and new histology has shown that AMD is a multilayer disease
- Soft drusen and subretinal drusenoid deposit – precursors and indicators
- Macular photoreceptors and clarity of ocular optics allow possible to dissect mechanisms, choose outcome measures, and interpret results from model systems
9:30 am Addressing the Heavy Handling of Retinal Diseases
Synopsis
- Lipid peroxidation is a major component of retinal pathology
- Antioxidants cannot mitigate the problem due to stoichiometric reasons
- Deuterated essential fatty acids offer a new approach
10:00 am Speed Networking
Synopsis
This session is the ideal opportunity to get face-to-face time with many of the brightest minds working in the dry AMD therapeutic field and establish meaningful business relationships to pursue for the rest of the conference
10:45 am Morning Break
11:15 am Understanding the Complement Pathway to Better Understand the Efficacy When Treating Dry AMD & Geographic Atrophy
Synopsis
- Providing the scientific significance of targeting the complement pathway
- Discussing the benefits of targeting complement factors
- Evaluating patient compliance with treatment duration
11:45 am Pegcetacoplan – Complement C3 Inhibition for GA
Synopsis
- Discuss different clinical presentations of GA patients
- Review the role of complement C3 inhibition with pegcetacoplan in GA secondary to AMD
- Provide an update from the Phase 3 pegcetacoplan clinical studies
12:15 pm Exploring the Gene Delivery of Complement Factor H to Treat Dry AMD
Synopsis
- Comparing treatment for wet AMD vs. dry AMD
• Outlining the role of complement system in dry AMD
• Displaying gene delivery of complement factor H
Discovering the Current Utilization & Next Gen Preclinical Models for Recapitulating the Complexity of Dry AMD to Conduct More Efficacious Preclinical Studies
12:45 pm Panel Discussion – Reviewing the Current State of Dry AMD Preclinical Models & What the Future Looks Like?
Synopsis
- Brief overview of blue light, sodium iodate and mass cell degranulation models to set the context for this session
- Discussing the qualities of the ideal preclinical model to identify key areas of development
- Looking towards the next generation of animal models as for better recapitulation of human dry AMD
1:45 pm Networking Lunch Break
2:45 pm Showcasing C1q Inhibition in Geographic Atrophy Using Light Damage Animal Models
Synopsis
- Classical complement pathway is implicated in geographic atrophy
- Inhibition of C1q stops the classical complement cascade and provides neuroprotection in light damage animal models
- Phase 2 clinical trial fully enrolled with results 1st half of 2023
3:15 pm Patient-Derived iPS Cell Model of Macular Degeneration: Disease Mechanisms & Potential Therapeutics
Synopsis
- iPSC models of both AMD and related macular dystrophies recapitulate key maculopathy phenotypes
- In the iPSC model of multiple maculopathies – perturbation in TIMP3-MMP axis precedes pathological changes
- Excess TIMP3 and consequently reduced levels of RPE-secreted MMP2 lead to pro-maculopathy cellular changes
Discussing Effective Clinical Trial Design & Diagnosing Endpoints Appropriate for the Complexity of Dry AMD & Geographic Atrophy
3:45 pm Panel Discussion Clinical Trial Design – Lessons Learned & Reflection on Preclinical Work
Synopsis
- What have we learned from the course of clinical trials?
- Can preclinical trials be better utilized for effective translation into the clinic
- Contemplating alternatives to BCVA & LLVA
4:15 pm Afternoon Break
4:45 pm Clinical Trial Considerations for Dry AMD
Synopsis
- How to design effective clinical trials in dry AMD and Geographic Atrophy
- Understanding disease progression and variability and its impact on clinical trial design
- How to leverage imaging biomarkers when designing clinical trials for Dry AMD
5:00 pm End of Conference Day Two
5:15 pm Discussing Methodology for Executing Clinical Trials Following Preclinical Findings to Benchmark your Dry AMD Trials
Synopsis
- What can be learned during preclinical testing to influence the design of clinical trials
- Reviewing translatability of limited preclinical testing
- How safety is ensured without appropriate animal models
5:45 pm End of Conference Day One: Chair’s Closing Remarks
5:55 pm Scientific Poster Session
Synopsis
After the formal presentation have finished for the afternoon, the learning and networking carries on. The Poster Session allows you to connect with your peers in a relaxed atmosphere and continue to forge new and existing relationships. During this session, scientific posters will be presented on the latest advancements in the dry AMD therapeutic field.