Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the optic nerves and the spinal cord that is linked to the presence of anti-aquaporin (AQP4) autoantibodies. Satralizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody, has been approved for the treatment of NMOSD but the effects of IL-6R inhibition in myelitis severity have not been fully explored.
Uveitis is a disease involving the eye, affecting the iris, ciliary body, retina and their associated blood vessels, among others. The non-infectious type of uveitis is linked to immune-related factors and its pathogenesis remains poorly understood.
Surrozen Inc. has announced that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG will further develop SZN-413 to advance the compound and prepare it for clinical testing. Boehringer decided to move forward with development based on the completion of the initial period of joint research under the companies’ strategic partnership for the research and development of SZN-413 for the treatment of retinal diseases.
For once, the EMA appears to have pipped the U.S. FDA to the post, with Pfizer Inc.’s hemophilia A and B therapy Hympavzi (marstacimab) recommended for approval in Europe on Sept. 20, while the U.S. PDUFA date is set for the fourth quarter of the year.
Nicox SA has entered into an exclusive research and license option agreement with Glaukos Corp. for NCX-1728, Nicox’s novel nitric oxide (NO)-donating phosphodiesterase PDE5 inhibitor.
A novel gene therapy that leads to cellular rejuvenation could restore vision after non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and glaucoma. The technique is based on a reprogramming process that reverses the epigenetic DNA alterations caused by aging. Preclinical studies in glaucoma mice and nonhuman primates (NHP) models for this stroke-like disorder that affects the eye, showed an improvement of vision and restoration of the damaged axons of the optic nerve.
Implications for Amgen Inc.’s same-class Tepezza (teprotumumab) of positive phase III data from Viridian Therapeutics Inc. with veligrotug in thyroid eye disease became a topic of talk on Wall Street talk. “I’m not drawing any clinical trial comparisons, you’ll have to reach your own conclusions,” CEO Steve Mahoney said during a conference call on the results.
Researchers from The University of Melbourne published data from a study that aimed to establish a novel myopia model that would facilitate large-scale in vivo studies for investigating molecular signaling and gene-environment interactions in myopia development.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC has identified plasma kallikrein (KLKB1) Inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, hereditary angioedema, diabetes, pancreatitis, intracerebral hemorrhage, nephropathy and inflammatory disorders.
Skyline Therapeutics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.’s SKG-1108, a novel one-time intravitreally delivered gene therapy, has been awarded U.S. orphan drug designation for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa.
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