NovaBridge, Visara report positive phase 2a results for dual VEGF-A/ANG-2 inhibitor VIS-101

NovaBridge Biosciences and Visara have announced topline results from their phase 2a study of VIS-101 for retinal vascular diseases, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

VIS-101 (also known as ASKG712 or AM712, according to the company) is a dual VEGF-A X ANG-2 inhibitor. The company notes that thanks to VIS-101’s bispecific, tetravalent design format, more binding sites and increased VEGF-A and ANG-2 affinity are seen, which results in “rapid, robust, and class-leading durable responses.”

Carlos Quezada-Ruiz, MD, FASRS, chairman of the scientific advisory board of Visara, commented on VIS-101 in a press release, saying, “As a retina specialist and drug developer, I am truly encouraged by VIS-101’s emerging product profile. The combination of robust visual and anatomic improvements, with potentially best-in-class durability and a favorable safety profile shown to date by VIS-101, has the potential to offer tangible benefits to people living with wet AMD and other retinal vascular diseases where the high treatment burden required by current therapies impacts their visual outcomes.”

The phase 2a study of VIS-101 enrolled 38 wet AMD patients in China, where patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either 6 mg of VIS-101 (n=25) or 3 mg of VIS-101 (n=13). The company noted a slightly higher proportion of pre-treated patients in the 6 mg dosing group. The average ages of patients in the 6 mg and 3 mg cohorts were 69.5 and 71.5, respectively.

The primary endpoint of the study was safety and pharmacokinetics, and the secondary endpoint was efficacy, measured by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change from baseline, central subfield thickness (CST), and retreatment rate. In the study, patients were given 3 loading doses at weeks 0, 4, and 8 with monthly follow-up to week 36 or retreatment.

According to the company, results showed that in both the 3 mg and 6 mg dose cohorts, a mean improvement of BCVA of >10 ETDRS letters was seen. Additionally, a CST reduction of 100-150 mm was seen. Two-thirds of patients were retreatment-free at 4 months, while half of patients were treatment-free at 6 months.

Emmett T Cunningham Jr, MD, PhD, MPH, founder and executive chairman of Visara and vice-chairman of the NovaBridge board of directors, commented on the results, “The data clearly show that VIS-101 produced rapid, robust, and durable treatment responses, with favorable tolerability, after three loading doses. Importantly, VIS-101 also demonstrated potential best-in-class durability, with nearly half of treatment-naïve patients remaining retreatment-free for more than 6 months following induction.”

The company plans on advancing VIS-101 to a dose-determining phase 2b trial in the second half of 2026, with a phase 3 global program expected in 2027.

Reference:

1. NovaBridge and Visara Announce Positive Results from VIS-101 Phase 2a Wet AMD Study. Published March 9, 2026. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://www.novabridge.com/news-releases/news-release-details/novabridge-and-visara-announce-positive-results-vis-101-phase-2a