Beijing DP Technology Co. Ltd. has nominated DPT-0415, a novel small molecule targeting lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), as a preclinical candidate for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

Nurexone Biologic Inc. has announced a preclinical study to explore the potential of the company’s exosome-based therapies for regenerating damaged optic nerves. The study is led by principal investigators from the Sheba Medical Center Eye Institute.

4D Molecular Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance by the FDA for 4D-175, an R100 vector-based intravitreal genetic medicine, for the treatment of patients with geographic atrophy.

Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc. has expanded its novel reactive aldehyde species (RASP) modulator pipeline with the discovery and advancement of new RASP modulators for the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Opus Genetics Inc. has received $1.7 million in project-based funding from the Foundation Fighting Blindness to help advance two preclinical candidate programs for inherited retinal diseases.

University of Basel investigators have reported an association between mutations in the COQ8B gene and nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP). RP is a genetically heterogeneous retinal degeneration disorder, which has been found to be associated with mutations in more than 70 genes. However, there are still cases for which no genetic cause has been found.

Researchers from Landeskrankenhaus Salzburg (SALK) - Universitätsklinikum der PMU have identified a novel loss-of-function variant in the NDUFA7 gene in a patient with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

Avirmax Biopharma Inc. has received IND approval from the FDA to initiate a phase I/IIa trial for its gene therapy treatment targeting wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is still the only approach for treating glaucoma, in which there is mitochondrial damage in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Activating survival pathways in RGCs was thus hypothesized by Indiana University scientists as a strategy for treating glaucoma independently of IOP modulation.

Researchers from Ikarovec Ltd. have presented preclinical data for the AAV8-IKC159V, the company’s lead bicistronic gene therapy being developed for the treatment of geographic atrophy, a late stage of geographic dry AMD.