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He is director of The Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and chief medical editor of Ophthalmology Times.

“[Gene therapy may] dramatically reduce frequency of treatments.”

A great leap forward in ophthalmic drug delivery?

Peter McDonnell, MD, shares his thoughts on Omar R. Shakir's, MD, MBA, article on office-based vitrectomy surgery.

Change for the better? Where the future of surgery may be going

With 37 years of clinical trial experience, Peter J. McDonnell, MD, offer some tips.

Clinical trials: What to keep in mind

As ophthalmology continues to advance, there is still room for more ocular cancer understanding and research.

Editorial: Cancer and the eye: Mysteries remain

VR will have very useful applications in many fields. One of those fields is ophthalmology.

Editorial: Welcome to the Metaverse

Echoes of history: COVID-19 pandemic stirs memories, tests our mettle

Coronavirus response: Generations react differently to COVID-19

Retina World Congress 2025 will take place May 8-11. As researchers prepare for their, presentation, we are highlighting the upcoming sessions that are scheduled for this meeting, which will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Note: The following list of presentations are in alphabetical order by company. Updates will be added to this article as new information becomes available.

The company highlight Phase 2 results for migaldendranib (MGB), Ashvattha’s investigational subcutaneous treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). The presentation, entitled, "Emerging Data om Anti-angiogenic Nanomedicine (Migaldendranib MGB/D-4517.2) for AMD and DME" will be given by Michael Singer, MD on Sunday, May 11, 2025; 11:11 – 11:16 am ET.

Phase 2 clinical data demonstrated that MGB administration lowered production of subretinal fluid reducing or eliminating the need for intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment in both the study eye and fellow eye in wet AMD and DME subjects with bilateral disease. New data indicates that MGB may be the first safe systemic therapy for the treatment of wet AMD and DME without ocular adverse events.

Huma Qamar, Chief Medical Officer at Ocugen will represent Ocugen at Retina World Congress to share a presentation and join retinal surgeons and industry peers during a panel discussion.

Inherited and Rare Retinal Diseases Session
Moderated by Rishi P. Singh, MD, FASRS and Kourous A. Rezaei, MD on Thursday, May 8, 2025, 10:35 – 11:12 AM ET

Ocular Therapeutix will present information at the meeting in Fort Lauderdale regarding the axitinib intravitreal hydrogel clinical trials, the use of its candidate OTX-TKI for diabetic retinopathy, and the HELIOS clinical trial for diabetic retinopathy.

Axitinib Intravitreal Hydrogel: Update on Clinical Trials

Presented by Carl C. Awh, MD, FASRS, on Friday, May 9, 2025, 4:33 – 4:38 PM ET.

Presented by Dilsher S. Dhoot, MD, FASRS on Saturday, May 10, 2025, 8:44 – 8:49 AM ET

Volumetric Macular Fluid Analysis of the Impact of a Single Axitinib Intravitreal Injection (OTX-TKI) from the HELIOS Clinical Trial for Diabetic Retinopathy

Presented by Carl J. Danzig, MD on Saturday, May 10, 2025, 8:52 – 8:57 AM ET

The company will present further insights from Stage 1 of the Phase 3 DIAMOND program reinforcing the efficacy and safety profile of OCS-01 eye drops for DME will also be shared. OCS-01 is being developed to be the first non-invasive treatment for DME, addressing key unmet needs for earlier treatment intervention and for inadequate responders to the current standard of care.

Ashvattha Therapeutics to Present at ARVO, Retina World Congress, and AOS Annual Meeting. Ashvattha Therapeutics. April 15, 2025. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/15/3061682/0/en/Ashvattha-Therapeutics-to-Present-at-ARVO-Retina-World-Congress-and-AOS-Annual-Meeting.html

Ocugen to Present on Modifier Gene Therapy Platform at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2025 Annual Meeting and Retina World Congress. Ocugen Inc. April 29, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/29/3070074/0/en/Ocugen-to-Present-on-Modifier-Gene-Therapy-Platform-at-Association-for-Research-in-Vision-and-Ophthalmology-2025-Annual-Meeting-and-Retina-World-Congress.html

Ocular Therapeutix™ to Participate in Upcoming Investor and Scientific Conferences. Ocular Therapeutix. April 29, 2025. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/29/3070022/0/en/Ocular-Therapeutix-to-Participate-in-Upcoming-Investor-and-Scientific-Conferences.html

Oculis to Present its Innovative Late-Stage Pipeline Candidates at Upcoming Ophthalmology Conferences. Oculis Holding AG. May 1, 2025. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/oculis-to-present-its-innovative-late-stage-pipeline-candidates-at-upcoming-ophthalmology-conferences

Companies working in the retina space have announced that data from clinical trials will be shared at this year’s meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

RWC 2025: Companies to share data at meeting in Fort Lauderdale

Subrata Batabyal, PhD, has received 2025 Carl Camras Translational Research Award from the ARVO Foundation for his pioneering work in optogenetic vision restoration. The award, which comes with a $12,000 prize, recognizes early-career investigators engaged in translational research. Batabyal will receive the award during The Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2025 annual meeting, to be held in Salt Lake City from May 4-8. 1

Batabyal is the Director of Nonclinical Development for Nanoscope Therapeutics, where he significantly contributed to the translation of multi-characteristic opsin (MCO-010). This pharmaceutical candidate is a gene therapy that uses light-sensitive proteins that aims to restore vision in patients with inherited retinal diseases. The therapy has successfully progressed from laboratory studies to clinical trials, demonstrating promising results in treating patients with retinitis pigmentosa and other inherited retinal disorders.

, Dr. Samarendra Mohanty, Co-Founder and President of Nanoscope spoke to this news, saying, “Dr. Batabyal continues to lead groundbreaking research initiatives in vision restoration at Nanoscope. He is representative of the outstanding team we have assembled, which is developing next-generation vision restoration treatments that could benefit potentially millions of patients worldwide who currently have limited treatment options.”

Nanoscope Therapeutics is developing mutation-agnostic, sight-restoring optogenetic therapies. Following positive end-of-study results from the RESTORE Phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial for RP (NCT04945772), the company announced its plan to initiate a BLA submission for MCO-010 to treat RP in H1 2025. The company has completed the Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial of MCO-010 therapy in Stargardt patients (NCT05417126) and plans to initiate a Phase 3 registrational trial, also in 2025. MCO-010 has received FDA Fast Track designations and FDA orphan drug designations for both RP and Stargardt. Preclinical programs include an IND-ready non-viral laser-delivered MCO-020 asset for GA, as well as an AAV asset for Leber Congenital Amaurosis, in IND-enabling studies.

Nanoscope Director of Nonclinical Development, Dr. Subrata Batabyal, Recognized for Pioneering Work in Optogenetic Vision Restoration. Nanoscope Therapeutics. May 1, 2025. Accessed May 2, 2025. 

https://nanostherapeutics.com/2025/05/01/nanoscope-director-of-nonclinical-development-dr-subrata-batabyal-recognized-for-pioneering-work-in-optogenetic-vision-restoration/

Nanoscope Therapeutics Announces Participation at Eyecelerator® and ARVO 2025 Annual Meetings. April 25, 2025. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nanoscope-therapeutics-announces-participation-at-eyecelerator-and-arvo-2025-annual-meetings-302438729.html

clinical

ARVO Foundation to give Subrata Batabyal, PhD, 2025 Carl Camras Translational Research Award

A new Chinese report recognized that social media smartphone application–based interventions significantly improved follow-up adherence and increased parental knowledge among families of children with congenital ectopic lentis,

 according to Yiyuan Ma, MD, who is from the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.

Congenital ectopia lentis is a rare ocular disease characterized by the dislocation or displacement of the lens.

The disease is most often attributed to disorders that disrupt the fibrillin-rich microfibrils of the ciliary zonule, affecting its structure and function. Ectopia lentis usually results in reduced visual acuity due to induced refractive error in the first instance. The most common causes of ectopia lentis include Marfan syndrome and related type-1 fibrillinopathies, trauma, homocystinuria, and Weill–Marchesani syndrome. In addition to the refractive effects, subluxation or luxation can lead to sectoral shallowing of the anterior chamber, subluxation of the lens into the anterior chamber, and glaucoma.

Ma and colleagues emphasized that ectopic lentis requires rigorous postoperative follow-up to reduce the risk of severe complications. However, follow-up rates often can be suboptimal, indicating an urgent need for effective interventions to improve adherence.

To fill this gap, the investigators assessed the effect of WeChat (Tencent Holdings Ltd.), a social media smartphone communication application, which delivers telephone reminders and health education to improve the families’ adherence to postoperative follow-up of children with congenital ectopic lentis.

They conducted a randomized clinical trial (

) at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, a tertiary ophthalmic hospital in Guangzhou that included families with children who were scheduled for lens surgery to address congenital ectopic lentis. The families were randomized to either the social media group of the standard care group.

The parents were contacted before the scheduled appointments at 1 week and 1 and 3 months postoperatively, and at those times those randomized to the social media intervention group received phone reminders and health education via the smartphone application. The main outcome was the follow-up attendance at 3 months postoperatively.

The study included 110 children (58.2% males) divided equally into 2 study groups.

The investigators reported, “The intervention group exhibited higher attendance rates than the standard-care group across all three postoperative follow-up visits (3 months: 83.6% vs 41.8%; 1 month: 81.8% vs 58.2%; and 1 week: 92.7% vs 87.3%, respectively).” The difference at the 3-month evaluation reached significance (

The children in the social media group also had greater improvements in the accurate parental knowledge about congenital ectopic lentis (10.6%, 95% CI, 7.8%-13.5%) and higher rates of amblyopia treatments (RR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.26-4.56).

“The results of this randomized clinical trial reveal that social media smartphone application–based interventions significantly improved follow-up adherence and increased parental knowledge among families of children with congenital ectopic lentis. These findings suggest that integrating mobile health technologies into standard care can enhance the management of progressive pediatric conditions with systemic risks, ultimately improving clinical outcomes,” Ma and colleagues concluded.

Ma Y, Zhang X, Jin L, et al. Social media interventions and postoperative follow-up in congenital ectopia lentis. A randomized clinical trial. 

 Published online April 10, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.0526

Xu P, Ng K, Jin L, et al. Visual prognosis and complications of congenital ectopia lentis: study protocol for a hospital-based cohort in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. 

Lambert SR, Lyons CJ, eds. The lens. Taylor and Hoyt’s Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2017;Chapter 36, 5th ed., pp.337-345.e1; Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7020-6616-0.00036-0

Canonical

Effect of social media on follow-up in congenital ectopia lentis

Eyestem Research announced positive results from its phase 1 trial (

) evaluating its investigational drug product, Eyecyte-RPE, in patients with 

dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

 in its trial in August 2024. The trial treated 9 patients in 3 sequential, ascending dose-level (DL) cohorts. The 3 dose levels were Eyecyte-RPE at 100,000; 200,000; and 300,000 cells. Eyecyte-RPE is a suspension of hiPSCs (human induced pluripotent stem cells) derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

The company stated that no serious adverse events were reported across all 3 cohorts, and the first 6 patients had an average improvement of 14.9 letters in early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) standard vision tests within 4 to 6 months post-transplantation. The company also noted that “retinal imaging scans revealed early signs of disease reversal in a handful of patients.”

Jogin Desai, founder and CEO of Eyestem commented on the results in a press release from the company.

“The substantial vision improvement, sustained over a 4-6-month period in all 6 patients, combined with an excellent safety profile, has been very encouraging and has the potential to reshape the landscape of GA treatment globally. It is especially rewarding to see the improvement in the quality of life in these patients. We look forward to exploring these early results further in our phase two study in India and the US," said Desai.

Eyestem plans to present data from the trial at the upcoming ARVO 2025 annual meeting.

Eyestem’s Eyecyte-RPE trial shows vision rescue for geographic atrophy patients. Published April 14, 2025. Accessed April 14, 2025. 

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/eyestems-eyecyte-rpe-trial-shows-vision-rescue-for-geographic-atrophy-patients/articleshow/120271413.cms

Safety & efficacy of Eyecyte-RPE™ in patients with geographic atrophy secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration. NCT06394232. Accessed April 14, 2025. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06394232

Eyecyte-RPE is a suspension of human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Eyestem reports promising phase 1 trial results in patients with geographic atrophy

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for priority review the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) from Regeneron for the high-dose (HD) formulation of aflibercept (EYLEA HD).

The sBLA seeks approval for EYLEA HD for both the treatment of macular edema following 

, and for broadening the dosing schedule to include every 4-week, or monthly, dosing across approved indications. The company noted that the FDA target action date is August 19, 2025, following the use of a priority review voucher.

The HD formulation is a longer-acting version of the original aflibercept drug, and through less frequent injection, it is designed to be more convenient to the patient, reducing treatment burden. In August 2023, data from Regeneron’s Phase III PULSAR trial confirmed that even at dosing intervals at least 12 weeks long, high-dose Eylea did not sacrifice vision gains while also helping patients maintain their treatment schedules.

The sBLA is supported by data from the phase 3 QUASAR trial investigating EYLEA HD in RVO. As 

showed that it met its primary endpoint at 36 weeks, with both groups of EYLEA HD patients dosed every 8 weeks achieving non-inferior visual acuity gains compared to those receiving EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection 2 mg dosed every 4 weeks.

The safety profile of EYLEA HD in the QUASAR trial was similar to EYLEA and remained generally consistent with the known safety profile of EYLEA HD in its pivotal trials. The company did note that increased ocular pressure (5%) was the only ocular treatment-emergent adverse event that occurred in ≥5% of all EYLEA HD patients, compared to 1.7% of EYLEA patients.

Regeneron has also filed an application with the FDA for the use of pre-filled syringes (PFS) of high-dose aflibercept in the US. Approval and launch of these PFSs are expected by mid-2025.

 Additionally, Bayer announced the submission of an application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking to expand the indication for aflibercept 8mg. Aflibercept is being jointly developed by Bayer and Regeneron.

EYLEA HD (aflibercept) injection 8 mg sBLA accepted for FDA Priority Review for both the treatment of macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and for monthly dosing in approved indications. Published April 17, 2025. Accessed April 17, 2025. 

https://investor.regeneron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/eylea-hdr-aflibercept-injection-8-mg-sbla-accepted-fda-priority

FDA Action Alert: Regeneron, Sanofi and Abeona. BioSpace. April 14, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://www.biospace.com/fda/fda-action-alert-regeneron-sanofi-and-abeona

Harp M. Regeneron reveals positive results from multiple trials evaluating Eylea HD (aflibercept) injection 8 mg. 

 Published February 10, 2025. Accessed April 17, 2025. 

https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/regeneron-reveals-positive-results-from-multiple-trials-evaluating-eylea-hd-aflibercept-injection-8-mg

Regeneron Provides Business Updates and Highlights from Broad Clinical Pipeline at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Regeneron. January 13, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. 

https://investor.regeneron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/regeneron-provides-business-updates-and-highlights-broad/

Hayes, H. Bayer files EMA application for aflibercept 8mg in third indication, retinal vein occlusion. 

 April 9, 2025. Accessed April 14, 2025. 

https://www.modernretina.com/view/bayer-files-ema-application-for-aflibercept-8mg-in-third-indication-retinal-vein-occlusion

The sBLA seeks approval for Eylea HD for both the treatment of macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, and for broadening the dosing schedule to include every-4-week dosing across approved indications.

Peter J. McDonnell, MD

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