PolyActiva and RareSight partner to develop treatments for rare pediatric retinal diseases

PolyActiva and RareSight have announced a “strategic collaboration” to develop first-in-class therapies for rare pediatric retinal diseases with no current approved drug treatments.

The research collaboration agreement will leverage PolyActiva’s proprietary PREZIA platform to offer “first-of-its-kind, new chemical entity (NCE)-eligible pro-drug candidates.” According to the company, this approach will allow for sustained release directly to the retina, requiring no patient administration.

PREZIA uses covalent bonding to attach therapeutic agents to a polymer backbone, enabling “precise, consistent, and fully customizable drug release” from 1 week to over 1 year. PREZIA is biodegradable, eliminating residual buildup and supporting repeat dosing.

Carmen Caricchio, CEO and Founder of RareSight, commented on the partnership, saying, “By combining RareSight’s therapeutic discovery and development expertise with PolyActiva’s novel drug delivery platform, this collaboration represents a major step toward transforming how inherited eye diseases are treated. Together, we are advancing a new class of long-acting pharmacologic therapies to address early-onset vision loss, with the potential to change a child’s life and bring hope to generations to come.”

Sandeep Grover, MD, medical retina, inherited retinal disease specialist, and professor of ophthalmology based in Jacksonville, Florida, commented on the impact that inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) have, saying, "Children with inherited retinal diseases face lifelong visual challenges with no approved drug therapies. As a pioneer of the earliest research in this field and caring for kids and their families for more than two decades, I am encouraged by novel therapeutic strategies that support our goal of helping patients maintain vision, function, and independence as long as possible."

Earlier this year, PolyActiva announced the enrollment of the first patient in its phase 2b clinical trial evaluating PA5108, an investigational new chemical entity (NCE), intracameral ocular microimplant, for reducing IOP in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). The trial is currently underway in approximately 75 patients across 12 sites to evaluate PA5108’s safety, tolerability, and durability in controlling intraocular pressure over time

Additionally, the company secured AUD $40 million in Series C funding to support the continued clinical advancement of PA5108.

References:

1. PolyActiva and RareSight Form Strategic Collaboration to Develop Breakthrough Treatments for Rare Pediatric Retinal Diseases. Published November 5, 2025. Accessed November 5, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251105185248/en/PolyActiva-and-RareSight-Form-Strategic-Collaboration-to-Develop-Breakthrough-Treatments-for-Rare-Pediatric-Retinal-Diseases

2. Harp MD. PolyActiva enrolls first patient in phase 2b clinical trial of PA5108 ocular implant. Published August 12, 2025. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/polyactiva-enrolls-first-patient-in-phase-2b-clinical-trial-of-pa5108-ocular-implant

3. Harp MD. PolyActiva secures $40 million AUD in Series C funding. Published June 14, 2025. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/polyactiva-secures-40-million-aud-in-series-c-funding