Ophthalmology

Regeneron says it is closely watching Amgen’s Pavblu 2mg aflibercept biosimilar, which is gaining traction via financial incentives to physicians as “the only differentiator” to its Eylea reference brand. Meanwhile, Regeneron is aiming to boost Eylea HD uptake amid regulatory setbacks.

Namrata Saroj, chief business officer of Ocular Therapeutix, is highly respected in the retina community for her contributions to drug development. She talked to In Vivo about her journey in ophthalmology, leadership philosophy and the importance of authenticity in a close-knit specialty.

Roche Pharmaceuticals’ area head, Asia Pacific, outlines how the Swiss group is helping nurture the wider ecosystem and setting itself up for a bigger play in the ophthalmology space by combining scientific expertise with regional insights.

Autolus’s CAR T therapy obe-cel is among the medicines that are this week due for an opinion by the European Medicines Agency on whether they should be marketed in the EU.

Apotex has expanded an alliance formed with Formosa in August for its novel clobetasol propionate ophthalmic treatment, adding Mexican rights to its existing deal for the Canadian market.

The firms recently announced they will operate as combined company LXE Hearing marketing Eargo’s namesake line and hearX’s Lexie brands. Eargo majority owner Patient Square Capital added $100m to its investment.

The firms recently announced they will operate as combined company LXE Hearing marketing Eargo’s namesake line and hearX’s Lexie brands. Eargo majority owner Patient Square Capital added $100m to its investment.

Henlius has reported progress in its development of a bevacizumab product for treating ophthalmic diseases, with its Essex-partnered HLX04-O candidate meeting its primary endpoint in a Phase III trial. Meanwhile, Outlook Therapeutics has taken another shot at getting its own ophthalmic bevacizumab approved in the US after resubmitting its filing.

Cipla has bolstered its ophthalmology portfolio and increased its global offering after chalking up an agreement to add Formosa Pharmaceuticals’ USFDA-approved clobetasol propionate 0.05% ophthalmic suspension.

Aurion Biotech is developing a cell therapy for corneal diseases that is cheap enough to produce and can be scaled that it should reach the masses in a way that other cell therapies cannot.

Alvotech has followed its European filing for a biosimilar to Regeneron’s Eylea (aflibercept) 2mg with acceptance for review from the US Food and Drug Administration for its AVT06 candidate.

Beyond the cost savings of biosimilars, the true evolution in wet AMD treatment is happening by companies developing next-generation therapies that aim to reduce injection burden, introduce novel mechanisms, and potentially alter disease progression.