Raghu Raj
Head of Radar Imaging & Target Identification Section Re-Vana Therapeutics
Raj is an internationally recognised expert in drug delivery and pharmaceutics, with over 20+ years of R&D experience. His research focuses on the design and development of innovative long-acting drug delivery systems, with a particular interest in reducing the burden of frequent intravitreal injections for chronic retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, which is exactly what this conference aims to explore. He leads The GODDs Lab (Great Ocular Drug Delivery Science Lab), one of the foremost ocular drug delivery research groups globally. Professor Thakur is also the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Re-Vana Therapeutics, a Queen’s University spinout company pioneering long-acting ocular drug delivery technologies. Under his scientific leadership, Re-Vana has raised significant funding and recently entered a landmark strategic collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim valued at over $1 billion in potential milestones, to co-develop sustained-release therapies targeting chronic retinal diseases.
Seminars
As ophthalmology advances toward longer dosing intervals, extending the half-life of biologics has become essential to reducing treatment burden and improving patient outcomes. This workshop will explore historic lessons and current innovations in developing long-acting delivery systems, focusing on formulation strategies and preclinical considerations that shape successful translation. Participants will gain insight into stability optimization, depot design, and the regulatory mindset required to bring next-generation biologic delivery platforms to market.
Key Topics to be Explored:
- Review current challenges in biologic delivery, including molecular instability, aggregation, and degradation in ocular environments
- Analyze why limited progress has been made in developing long-acting delivery systems in ophthalmology
- Evaluate formulation opportunities for ocular biologics – including particles, implants, depots, and bioresponsive systems – and discuss their respective limitations in terms of stability, release control, and biocompatibility
- Discuss preclinical hurdles in sustained biologic delivery, including model selection and safety/efficacy evaluation Future gazing: a look into the next generation of delivery platformsÂ
