Circadian Technologies (ASX:CIR, OTCQX:CKDXY) has announced that Dr Kameran Lashkari of Schepens Eye Research Institute/Massachusetts Eye & Ear at Harvard Medical School presented preclinical data overnight at the annual ARVO conference in Denver demonstrating efficacy with Circadian’s targeted therapy OPT-302 (VGX-300).
The data demonstrates OPT-302 reduced blood vessel growth and vessel leakage in a mouse model of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), either as monotherapy or in combination with Bayer's VEGF-A inhibitor aflibercept (EYLEA ).
The podium presentation entitled “VGX-300, a ‘Trap’ for VEGF-C and VEGF-D, inhibits choroidal neovascularization and vascular leakage in a mouse model of Wet AMD” was part of the AMD Novel Therapies session.
The presentation focussed on preclinical data that the company says underpinned its decision to progress its lead molecule OPT-302 into the clinic for the treatment of wet AMD.
The Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest gathering of eye and vision researchers in the world, attracting over 11,000 attendees from more than 75 countries.
Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries in individuals over the age of 50.
Circadian is developing its lead clinical product candidate OPT-302 and remains on-track to initiate a Phase 1 clinical study under an IND at US clinical sites in the first half of 2015.