Day Two

• Key pharmacokinetic parameters and their use in drug delivery system design
• Vitreal and retinal permeation of drugs and nanomedicines 
• Kinetic models and in vitro in vivo extrapolation

As interest in the suprachoroidal (SC) space grows, delivery devices have become the frontline challenge in getting therapies to their target. From microneedles to catheter-assisted injectors, a range of tools are emerging but none without trade-offs.

• Explore how microneedles, tangential injectors, and catheter-based systems differ in precision, invasiveness, and adaptability for posterior segment access
• Innovations in injector geometry and deployment angle are aiming to balance depth control with patient comfort and procedural simplicity
• Success hinges on aligning therapeutic goals with delivery depth, spread, and reach, especially in gene therapy and posterior disease, where IVT often falls short and subretinal carries surgical risk
• Strategic collaboration across device makers, formulation teams, and clinical partners is critical to avoiding translational misfires and maximizing therapeutic potential

With new device innovations and clinical data now available, suprachoroidal delivery is emerging as a viable, patient-friendly alternative to intravitreal and subretinal injections.

• Understand why biopharma and gene therapy companies are now choosing suprachoroidal delivery to directly target the retina and choroid, overcome the limitations of intravitreal and subretinal injections, and reduce patient burden
• Learn how a tangential suprachoroidal delivery approach with the Everads Injector performed in a first-in-human trial, demonstrating safety, efficacy, and stable IOP with only topical anesthesia
• See how the Everads injector supports a rapid distribution of both small-molecule and gene therapy delivery to the back of the eye, and volumes up to 200µL tolerated in preclinical models
• Discover how the injector’s ease-of-use could support future adoption, with procedures completed in ~40 seconds, no accidental IVTs observed in clinical use, and simplified global training for retinal surgeons and CROs

Intravitreal injection remains the most accessible and widely adopted method for delivering therapeutics to the back of the eye. Although the procedure has become routine and the manufacturing can be readily scaled, complex challenges still emerge in the development of new retinal medicines. This session explores evolving design strategies to optimize delivery, formulation compatibility, and dose control.

• From early devices to new designs, inconsistent dosing intervals between patients remains a obstacle during clinical development, making this a key focus for innovation
• High-concentration, low-volume delivery is essential to reach retinal targets, but these formulations introduce manufacturing and stability issues
• Formulation viscosity, needle size, and visual interference are key considerations that need to be addressed when designing for clinical and adoption success
• Biologics and other large molecules amplify the challenges encountered for intravitreal drug development, so stable small molecules remain dominant
• Overcoming these barriers for all drug modalities is critical for broader therapeutic expansion

• Use of natural hydrogels that shear thin during injection and then gel in situ, breaking down into natural amino acids to avoid immune reactions and ensure safety in retinal cells and animal models
• Comparison of implantable depots that are refillable or biodegradable, focusing on the importance of optically transparent, minimally invasive systems that do not impact visual fields or intraocular pressure
• Review of clinical concerns such as depot migration, inflammation, and the impact on retinal neurons, highlighting how new materials can reduce risks compared to traditional PLGA or synthetic hydrogels
• Discussion of innovative port delivery systems that slowly release proteins over extended periods while using familiar injection techniques, potentially reducing injection frequency and improving patient adherence

Despite major advances in ocular drug delivery, one of the biggest challenges remains human behaviour, the burden of compliance only grows. This panel explores how clinical design, technology innovation, and long-acting delivery platforms are being used to overcome the realities of poor adherence.

• Why do non-invasive approaches like eye drops still fail, despite being preferred by patients? What are the limits of patient compliance in real-world use?
• How can we reduce injection burden when chronic treatment still demands frequent visits? Is specialist training part of the problem?
• Are tracking tools: apps, sensors, reminders effective at improving adherence?
• Can we create long-lasting kinetics without compromising safety or adding surgical complexity?
• Are regulatory and manufacturing hurdles (CMC, scale-up, sterilization) the hidden barriers to achieving durable compliance solutions?

• Exploration of degradable materials that clear completely from the eye, emphasizing biocompatibility, control over burst release, and the ability to implant repeatedly as needed for chronic conditions
• Learn about shear-thinning peptidic gels for fine-needle injectable vitreal delivery; composed entirely of short chains of natural amino acids having modular functional properties; delivers unmodified biologics, including proven antiangiogenic proteins
• Discover the formulation using industry-standard media at neutral pH and dissolution of a matrix that does not require hydrolysis of any covalent bonds
• Uncover drug retention and release rates tuneable by rational modification of gel structure, ionic and hydrophobic properties, and designed drug-peptide interactions; high capacity for large protein drugs

This panel will discuss collaboration in delivery development i.e., co-developing platforms, managing device timelines, and regulatory alignment in combo products.

• Strategies to leverage the speed and innovation of biotech startups alongside the deep experience and resources of pharma giants like AbbVie: turning potential clashes into powerful synergies
• What “we’re thoroughly enjoying our AbbVie relationship” means in practice: how both Ripple Therapeutics and AbbVie have fostered continuous learning and development through close cooperation during diligence, development planning, and execution phases
• The importance of proactive, transparent communication, and collaboration across functions, including early alignment with device teams and other stakeholders, to anticipate challenges and optimize program success 

AI is everywhere but how useful is it really in the context of ophthalmic drug delivery? This roundtable brings together developers, modelers, and formulation scientists to explore where AI is starting to make an impact, what problems it may solve in the future, and where the technology is still ahead of the data. 

• Where is AI genuinely helping today from polymer–drug matching to analyzing drug release profile predictions?
• How close are we to using AI to predict sustained-release performance and polymer selection without running multi-month studies?
• What are the biggest data gaps (even for widely used materials like PLGA) holding AI back from broader utility?

Glaucoma remains a major global cause of vision loss, and while therapeutic options exist, current drug delivery methods face serious limitations in both efficacy and patient adherence. This talk introduces a new investigational therapeutic solution developed to address the root challenges of glaucoma treatment, not just through better drugs, but through a fundamentally different delivery approach.

• Introduces a novel method for glaucoma treatment designed to overcome the low penetration, rapid clearance, and frequent dosing limitations of traditional eye drops and topical therapies
• Highlights the burden of poor patient adherence in glaucoma management and how long-acting solutions may reduce disease progression by eliminating the need for daily administration
• Explores how this investigational therapy, administered in a brief in-office procedure, could offer 6–12 months of intraocular pressure control, supporting a patient-friendly alternative to chronic daily treatment

• Introduce device strategies that expand access to therapies for earlier-stage disease or preventive care
• Explore non-surgical delivery routes using devices that achieve precise spatial control with minimal invasiveness
• Examine how smart implants, responsive polymers, and controlled microfluidic pumps can usher in next-generation, refillable platforms
• Discuss the engineering that remain for these novel approaches to reach the clinic