From new NPDR treatments to potential AMD risks for surfers and scuba divers, these are the news stories and studies that caught our attention this week…
NPDR Phase IIb trial. Exonate Ltd., a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, UK, has announced plans to initiate a Phase IIb clinical trial for its lead candidate, EXN407, a novel eye-drop treatment for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). The CLEAR-DE trial will evaluate the drug’s efficacy, optimal dosing, and safety in 140 patients across Australia, the Middle East, and China, starting in early 2026. This follows promising Phase Ib/IIa results from March 2024, where EXN407 met safety endpoints and showed early signs of reducing vascular leakage. Unlike current invasive treatments that require intraocular injections, EXN407 offers a non-invasive, twice-daily topical alternative. It works by selectively inhibiting SRPK1 to modulate VEGF expression and reduce abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Exonate is now seeking strategic partners to support the trial’s execution. Link
Joint pharma venture. One of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, Boehringer Ingelheim, and privately-held, US and UK based ocular therapeutics developer, Re-Vana Therapeutics, have announced a strategic collaboration and license agreement to develop extended-release treatments for eye disease. Re-Vana’s innovative drug delivery technology enables sustained therapeutic release over 6 to 12 months, aiming to reduce the burden of frequent eye injections and improve patient compliance. Boehringer Ingelheim will combine this platform with its own diverse ophthalmology pipeline, which currently includes four Phase II assets. The agreement allows Boehringer to add up to three projects per year, and covers joint feasibility development, with Boehringer assuming full responsibility for clinical, regulatory, and commercial phases. The deal’s value could exceed $1 billion for the first three targets, including royalties on sales. Both companies emphasize the partnership’s potential to transform vision care and enhance quality of life for millions of patients. Link
Real-world outcomes of IOP-lowering treatments. A recent multicentre, retrospective cohort study conducted by researchers based at King’s College London and University College London, UK, has performed analysis on the "Real-world outcomes of selective laser trabeculoplasty and medical treatment in primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension." Involving 4,564 eyes over a 10-year period, the study compared the effectiveness and treatment durability of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and topical medication, both as initial therapy and following treatment escalation. Results showed that both SLT and topical drops significantly reduced intraocular pressure (IOP), but treatment success – defined as sustained IOP control without further escalation – lasted a median of 1.72 years for initial drops and 1.35 years for initial SLT. After escalation, success lasted 1.32 years for dual drops and 1.53 years for SLT plus a drop. While SLT showed slightly better IOP reduction, no significant difference in long-term success was found after adjusting for baseline differences. The study highlights the need for contextualizing randomized trial findings with real-world evidence to inform glaucoma treatment decisions. Link
A Sea View. An Australian-based Eye study has highlighted potential gaps in eye health research by proposing that surfers and scuba divers may be an under-recognized at-risk group for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other ocular conditions. The authors – based at Bond University and the Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Queensland, Australia – argue that cumulative exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and high-energy visible (blue) light – enhanced by water's reflective and refractive properties – could place these individuals at higher risk, especially in high UV-index regions. As such, they advocate for interdisciplinary research to explore this risk further, including the use of wearable radiometry and retinal imaging, in hopes that this type of proactive investigation could help to infirm future preventative strategies for these environmentally exposed groups. Link
