Our Strong Commitment to Innovation in Wet AMD
Delivering trusted science to transform the treatment and outcomes of wet AMD
Shaping the future of retinal care through medical innovation.
Our compassion for patients is what drives us to challenge the treatment status quo in retinal diseases. We aim to set a new standard of care for retinal specialists by partnering with them to enable life-changing outcomes for people with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and other retinal diseases.
Opthea has deep scientific experience in vascular pathophysiology, angiogenesis and associated treatment strategies for ophthalmic indications. Our team is recognized as leading experts in the biology of the VEGF-C / VEGF-D pathway and VEGFR-2/VEGFR-3 receptor signaling pathways.
The Future Looks Brighter
Introducing sozinibercept (OPT-302), a novel first-in-class investigational drug candidate for retinal diseases including wet age-related macular degeneration.
VEGF-C and VEGF-D drive angiogenesis and vascular permeability by binding and activating VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 independently of VEGF-A. In addition, VEGF-A inhibition12 also elevates VEGF-C and VEGF-D which may further contribute to sub-optimal clinical efficacy of anti-VEGF-A treatments8,13-20
OPT-302 is the first and only VEGF-C and VEGF-D protein ligand ‘trap’ in clinical development for wet AMD:
OPT-302 traps VEGF-C and VEGF-D protein ligands, to inhibit VEGF-C and VEGF-D mediated angiogenesis through VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-38
VEGF-C/D ligands are also upregulated in patients receiving anti-VEGF-A therapies and may lead to vision loss by causing leaky blood vessels to form and drive disease progression12,21
OPT-302, used in combination with standard of care (SoC), may provide complementary benefits and improve visual outcomes8,21
Watch our Mechanism of Action video to learn how OPT-302 works in the eye.
Opthea’s Intellectual Property Rights
Opthea has a strong intellectual property portfolio that is based around composition of matter patents
Patents relating to OPT-302
have been granted in the United States (U.S.), Japan, Russia, Australia, and other countries.
VEGFR3 molecule-related patents have been granted in the European Union (EU), Japan, Canada, Australia, and the U.S.
Our R&D Pipeline
In July 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted ‘Fast Track’ designation for our lead candidate in wet AMD, sozinibercept (OPT-302), in recognition of its novel Mechanism of Action and the significant unmet medical need in wet AMD.22
References
1. Lux A, Llacer H, Heussen F, et al. Non-responders to bevacizumab (Avastin) therapy of choroidal neovascular lesions. Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1318–1322. 2. Arsham Sheybani, Review of ophthalmology, 19 MARCH 2010. 3. Martin DF, Ophthalmology. 2012 Jul;119(7):1388-98. 4. Ehlken, C., Eye 28, 538–545 (2014). 5. Rosenfeld PJ, N Engl J Med. 2006 Oct 5;355(14):1419-31. 6. Heier JS, Ophthalmology. 2012;119:2537–48. 7. Steinkuller, P. American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. 2010; (12): 938-940. 8. Dugel PU, Ophthalmol Retina. 2020 Mar;4(3):250-263. 9. Timothy L. Jackson, PhD DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.02.001. 10. Clinicaltrials.gov. OPT-302 (ShORe). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04757610. 11. Clinicaltrials.gov. OPT-302 (COAST). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04757636. 12. Arepalli S and Kaiser P. Int J Retin Vitr. 55(2021). 13. Cabral T,. Ophthalmol Retina. 2018 Jan;2(1):31-37. 14. Lieu C, PloS One. 2013; 8: e77117. 15. Li D, Cancer Lett. 2014; 346:45-52. 16. Rose S, Clin Neurosurg. 2010; 57: 123-8. 17. Fan F, Br J Cancer. 2011. 18. Puddu A, Exp Eye Res. 2016 May;146:128-36. 19. Bradford A. Moffat, Clin Cancer Res 2006;12(5) 1525-1532. 20. Claus Cursiefen, The Journal of Clinical Investigation Volume 113 Number 7 April 2004. 21. Zhou et al. BMC Ophthalmology (2020) 20:15. 22. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/07/06/2258087/0/en/Opthea-s-OPT-302-Granted-FDA-Fast-Track-Designation-for-Wet-Age-Related-Macular-Degeneration.html 23. Boyer DS, American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, Retina Subspecialty Day Vision for the Future; Nov. 13, 2020. 24. Boyer DS, meeting, Diabetic Retinopathy Symposium; July 24-26, 2020.