8:25 am Chairs Opening Remarks

Delving into the Current Developments to Target Intermediate AMD

8:30 am Comparing the Opportunities Available in Intermediate AMD and Geographic Atrophy

Synopsis

  • Delving into the differences faced in patient recruitment for iAMD and GA
  • Understanding how the perspectives of the FDA differ between iAMD and GA
  • Identifying the key differences in end points for iAMD and GA

9:00 am Evaluating the Viability of Statins to Treat Dry AMD

  • John Edwards Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Drusolv Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Leveraging the repurposing to target AMD at earlier stages of the disease
  • Delving into the mechanism that prevents patients from developing late-stage blindness
  • Assessing proof-of-concepthuman data and outlining plans for an upcoming phase 2 trial

9:30 am Leveraging Inflammation Inhibition to Target Earlier Stages of Dry AMD

Synopsis

  • Assessing how to prevent the transition from the early (iAMD) ot later (GA) stage of dryA MD
  • Outlining the benefits of utilizing an oral drug for the treatment of the early (iAMD) form of dryA MD

Gaining a Deeper Understanding of the Underlying Causes of Dry AMD to Inform Therapeutic Drug Development and Target Selection

10:00 am Roundtable Discussion: Exploring the Mechanisms of the Different Causes of Dry AMD

Synopsis

  • As more therapeutics are progressing through company pipelines, it is more important than ever to have a clear understanding on the mechanistic causes of dry AMD
  • Explore the evidence for the different mechanisms being involved in dry AMD
  • Assess the current preclinical models for representing the different mechanism
  • Discover the potential therapies available to target each mechanism

10:30 am Morning Break and Networking

11:00 am Understanding the Complexity of Dry-AMD: A Multifactorial Perspective

Synopsis

  • Taking a holistic look the mechanisms causing dry AMD
  • Discovering potential therapeutics capable of being directed towards multiple targets
  • Understanding how the different mechanisms affect one another

11:30 am Exploring the Role of Long Chain (LC) & Very Long Chain (VLC) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) in Vision to Better Inform Dry AMD Therapeutic Development

Synopsis

  • Review of the endogenous biosynthetic pathway for LC and VLC PUFA
  • Genetic and Epigenetic affects on the LC and VLC PUFA biosynthetic pathway and consequences for vision ELOVL2 retinal gene therapy

12:00 pm Utilizing Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) as a possible treatment for Dry AMD

Synopsis

  • Exploring the evidence that DHA is oxidized in dry AMD
  • Assessing the capabilities of deuterated DHA to provide protection against oxidative damage in the retina
  • Evaluating available preclinical data

12:30 pm Lunch and Networking

1:30 pm Classical Complement Inhibition Preserves Visual Function with ANX007

  • Donald Fong VP, Head of Ophthalmology, Annexon Biosciences

Synopsis

  • Understand importance of classical complement inhibition
  • Comprehend how photoreceptor and synapse preservation protects vision
  • Showcase ANX007 in Geographic Atrophy

Advancing a Combined Pluripotent Stem Cell and Device Solution for Geographic Atrophy

2:00 pm Experience in Developing a Combination Pluripotent Stem Cell/Device Product for Geographic Atrophy

Synopsis

  • Approach to qualifying the cells and device
  • Studies to test the safety and efficacy of the combined product
  • Regulatory review

2:30 pm Afternoon Break and Networking

Investigating the Latest Advancements for Improving the Delivery of Dry AMD Therapeutics

3:00 pm Leveraging Clinical Data to Evaluate a Single Dose Intravitreal Administration of AVD-104

Synopsis

  • Assessing the dose escalation and safety data
  • Highlighting the benefits of using our chosen molecule
  • Outlining the trial design for the 2 year trial with a 12 month primary endpoint

3:30 pm Leveraging Preclinical Data to Ensure Successful Delivery of an AAV-based Gene Therapy After Transition into the Clinic

  • Melissa Calton Senior Director, Project Team Leader, 4D Molecular Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Overcoming barriers to efficient intravitreal delivery of AAV-based gene therapy to the retina
  • Employing directed evolution in nonhuman primates to discover novel retinotropic AAV vectors for clinical gene therapy
  • Exploring key translational research considerations to facilitate clinical trial development

4:00 pm Expanding Optogenetics Vision Restoration to GA via Laser Delivery of Multi-Characteristic Opsin

Synopsis

  • Discuss potential of Optogenetics to improve visual acuity in macular degeneration patients from proof of concept data in human
  • Assessing the latest preclinical data on the use of a laser delivery
  • Exploring the platform for different retinal indications

4:30 pm Chairs Closing Remarks