8:00 am Check In & Morning Refreshments

8:25 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

8:30 am Exploring the Evolving Landscape of Regulatory Approvals for Combination Products

Synopsis

  • Landscape overview of current regulatory requirements
  • Device design solutions to address regulatory challenges
  • Future of ophthalmic drug delivery in clinical trials

Exploring Innovations With Retinal Topical Delivery

9:00 am Navigating the Safety Landscape of Novel Drug Delivery

  • Karen Chu Global Program Head, Vice President, Ophthalmology, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Synopsis

  • Evaluating acceptable safety goals for novel therapeutic deliveries
  • Addressing safety challenges associated with novel delivery technologies
  • Managing adverse events related to delivery technologies

9:30 am Delving into Retinal Topical Delivery: Opportunities & How Contact Lenses Can Take Their Advantage

Synopsis

  • Providing a non-invasive, cost-effective, and patient-friendly option for retinal disease treatment
  • Delivering therapeutic drug levels to the back of the eye through sustained release contact lenses
  • Overcoming challenges like low drug loading and fast release with innovative solutions

10:00 am Morning Break

Delivery Effective Cell & Gene Therapies to the Eye to Halt Vision Loss

10:30 am Optimizing Current Suprachoroidal & Subretinal Delivery of AAV Gene Therapies

  • Kim Irwin-Pack Executive Director - Drug Delivery & Training, REGENXBIO

Synopsis

  • Reviewing the future landscape and the ideal delivery mechanisms to the suprachoroidal and subretinal spaces

11:00 am Enhancing Cell & Gene Therapies With Advanced Hydrogel Platforms

Synopsis

  • Characterizing how hydrogel platforms impact localization and phenotype of injected cells
  • Engineering formulations to improve cell viability
  • Detailing the potential for tissue regeneration

11:30 am Exploring Disease Indication & Endpoint Selection for Ophthalmic Gene Therapy Trials to Unlock Optimal Results

  • Peter Francis Chief Scientific & Medical Officer, Ray Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Showcasing how to replicate LUXTERNA results in subsequent RPE65 gene therapies
  • Identifying the ideal volume and best vehicle
  • Evaluating promotor usage, injection point and AAV virus formulation

12:00 pm Lunch

Comparing of Existing Ophthalmic Models Approaches to Supercharge Development

1:00 pm Utilizing Preclinical & Computational Models for Predicting Human Ophthalmic Drug Behavior

Synopsis

  • Comparing existing rodent, pig, and rabbit models
  • Troubleshooting species differences with ocular models to optimize delivery translation
  • Addressing the gaps in the current models and applying computational methods for predicting PK/PD

1:30 pm Roundtable Discussion: Finding the Ideal Combination of Formulation & Device for Optimal Ocular Delivery

Synopsis

A more practical and highly interactive breakout roundtable session where attendees can crowd-source solutions and

share opinions on pre-assigned topic areas:

  • Topical – How can topical treatments duration and penetration be extended?
  • Injection – Strategies for optimizing with intravitreal, subretinal, and suprachoroidal injections
  • Implant – Key design consideration for intraocular implants to ensure sustained drug release

Moderator Feedback & Audience Debate

Moderators will be assigned to each roundtable to facilitate discussion and collate the findings. Following the

roundtable discussions, they will present back to the entire delegation and open wider audience debate.

2:00 pm Afternoon Break

Innovations with Topical & Oral Medications & the Path to Regulatory Success

3:00 pm Considering Systemic Administration of PPARalpha Agonist for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy & AMD

  • Jianxing Ma Professor and Chair, Wake Forest University

Synopsis

  • Understanding PPARa as a drug target for diabetic retinopathy
  • Exploring novel non-fibrate PPARalpha agonists with higher potency and selectivity for PPARalpha agonism
  • Demonstrating the effects on retinal degeneration, inflammation and neovascularization in diabetic and AMD animal models

3:30 pm Delving into Vision Improvement in GA Patients by Ophthalmic Artery Angioplasty: A New Approach to Access the Eye

  • Mario Saravia Principal Investigator, Buenos Aires Mácula Clinical Research

Synopsis

  • Ophthalmic artery angioplasty study is the first interventional study that improved perfusion
  • Showcasing advancements in GA patients improved visual acuity
  • Detailing long lasting vision gaining after 6 months follow up

4:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks & End of Conference