8.00 am Check-In & Coffee + Light Breakfast
8:55 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
DELIVERING TRANSFORMATIVE DRUGS TO THE RETINAL VASCULAR SYSTEM
9:00 am Transforming wAMD Treatment: Long-Lasting, Flexible Dosing with Suprachoroidal TKI Delivery
Synopsis
- Address the high treatment burden of current anti-VEGF therapies for wAMD, highlighting the need for more sustainable and less frequent treatment but maintain the flexibility of anti-VEGF biologics
- Explore the benefits of TKIs in wAMD management, focusing on their pan-VEGF receptors blockage, extended drug delivery while acknowledging the limitations of current intravitreal anti-VEGF due to their modest longevity
- Looking at clinical prospects of wAMD formulations designed for suprachoroidal injection to deliver a precise daily dose to retinal and choroidal tissues, without full penetration of the eye wall, and low drug to off target tissue such as the lens, potentially revolutionizing the treatment regimen for wAMD patients with additional benefits such as no or very low risk of endophthalmitis and cataract
9:30 am Using an Oral Anti-Inflammatory Drug to Improve Treatment Options for DME & DR Patients Non-Responsive to Anti-VEGF Therapy
Synopsis
- Addressing the unmet need in DR and DME patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment by targeting non-responders with Xiflam, a once-daily oral small molecule that inhibits the pathologically open Connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannel
- Demonstrating positive preclinical results, Xiflam shows promise in modulating the dysregulated inflammasome pathway, reducing autoinflammation in DME and DR
- Exploring the benefits of oral administration over injections, particularly for early-stage disease patients who prefer non-invasive treatment options
10.00 am Morning Break & Refreshments
11:00 am Drug Delivery Aspects & Device Impacts on Retinal Vascular Treatments
Synopsis
- Optimizing dosing strategies, particularly for gene therapy, to support both physician and patient compliance and improve treatment outcomes
- Refining device aspects to streamline administration and enhance the overall experience for both patients and healthcare providers
- Addressing CMC challenges to ensure consistent, reliable treatment options that benefit both physicians and patients through improved compliance and satisfaction
11:30 am Panel Discussion: What Are the Key Considerations for Advancing Drug Delivery in Retinal Disease & How Can We Overcome the Challenges?
Synopsis
- What are the comparative strengths and weaknesses of current drug delivery innovations, such as suprachoroidal injections, topical treatments, oral drugs, and implants?
- How do these different delivery methods impact treatment effectiveness and safety profiles, and what trade-offs do they present?
- What practical challenges do these diverse approaches face, and how do they stack up in terms of scalability and ease of integration into existing treatment protocols?
12.15 am Lunch & Networking
GENE THERAPY BREAKTHROUGHS: PIONEERING NEW PATHWAYS IN WET AMD WITH ONE-TIME TREATMENT OPTIONS
1:30 pm Transforming Wet AMD Treatment with Ixo-vec, an Intravitreal Gene Therapy
Synopsis
- Explore the innovative approach of Ixo-vec, which uses the AAV.7m8 capsid to deliver a gene encoding aflibercept, enabling continuous production of the VEGF antagonist after a single intravitreal injection
- Review the LUNA Phae 2 trial results, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of Ixo-vec in reducing the need for frequent anti-VEGF injections and maintaining visual and anatomical outcomes in patients with wet AMD
- Discuss the potential impact of Ixo-vec on patient quality of life, highlighting the reduced treatment burden and the promise of long-term vision preservation with a single treatment
2:00 pm In-Vitro & In-Vivo Studies to Support the World’s First CRISPR/RNATargeting Therapy, HG202, for Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Synopsis
- Highlight the significant unmet medical need for effective treatments for neovascular age-related macular degeneration
- Explain the molecular composition, mechanism of action, and preclinical studies of HG202 using animal models
- Outline the clinical trial design, preliminary safety data, and case studies demonstrating the clinical efficacy of HG202
2.30 pm Afternoon Refreshments
3:00 pm Panel Discussion: Comparing Gene Therapy Approaches for Wet AMD: Delivery Methods, Targets, & Therapeutic Potential
Synopsis
- How are intravitreal and subretinal delivery methods impacting treatment precision, effectiveness, and patient experience?
- What are the implications of targeting VEGF suppression versus complement modulation on efficacy and safety?
- How can we optimize long-term outcomes by addressing durability, immune response, and safety across different gene therapy approaches?
SUCCEEDING IN A COMPETITIVE ANTI-VEGF MARKET
3:45 pm Panel Discussion: Comparative Market Analysis of Wet AMD Treatments: Trends & Opportunities
Synopsis
- Evaluate the current landscape of anti-VEGF therapies across Wet AMD, highlighting differences in treatment efficacy, patient demographics, and injection frequencies
- Analyze the economic impact and market penetration of newer treatments like faricimab and biosimilars, considering their uptake and performance in realworld settings compared to traditional therapies
- Identify emerging trends and unmet needs in each treatment area, focusing on the potential for innovative therapies to address gaps in efficacy, durability, and patient compliance