Re-envisioning retinal diseases
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Dedicated to fighting human blindness​
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Our mission is to transform retinal care through sustainable, non-invasive innovation that protects human vision and enhances quality of life.​
Our sciences, Your Vision!
Retinal diseases
Retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinal disease (DRD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are a leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, affecting millions of people and often stripping away their independence and quality of life. We believe that behind these statistics are real lives waiting for a better path forward. We are dedicated to changing this narrative by moving beyond current standards to provide accessible, non-invasive, and sustainable solutions that restore the gift of sight to patients and their families.
1-2
DRD affects
Americans People worldwide
> M
> M
AMD affects
3-4
Americans People worldwide
> M
> M
U.S. Economic Impact of vision loss
5
$ B
1. Lundeen, E. A. et al. Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the US in 2021. JAMA Ophthalmol. 141, 747–754 (2023).
2. Diabetic Retinal Disease (Global): Teo, Z. L. et al. Global prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and projection of burden through 2045: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology 128, 1580–1591 (2021).
3. Prevent Blindness. Prevalence of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) (2024).
4. Wong, W. L. et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob. Health 2, e106–e116 (2014).
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Economic Studies. Vision and Eye Health (2024).
Diabetic Retinal Diseases
DRD is a common cause of vision loss among diabetic patients. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the early stage of DR during which patients exhibit no obvious symptoms to mild symptoms such as weakened blood vessels. Chronically elevated blood glucose in diabetes can render tiny blood vessels in the eye "leaky", causing fluid to build up in light-sensing tissue called the retina. This phenomenon, known as edema, can significantly affect central vision when it occurs in the macula, the region of the retina responsible for sharp, color vision. Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is the most common cause of vision loss in the DR population. The most advanced stage of DR, known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), is characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth. Abnormal vessel function and growth may contribute to retinal inflammation, ischemia (i.e. inadequate blood flow), and neuronal cell death, all of which can ultimately lead to substantial vision loss or complete blindness.
No DRD NPDR/DME PDR
What your doctor sees
What you see
BLINDNESS
Treatment Options
DRD may be present without any signs.
Lifestyle changes are the only options at this stage, and no therapy exists yet to delay or prevent DRD progression.
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Intraocular injections
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Laser photo-coagulation
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Vitrectomy
High-treatment burden and
high compliance-associated drop off
The SoC has high treatment burden,
suboptimal impact, and high price tag
Standard of care (SoC) is the intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs
~35 %
of patients are non-adherent to SoC due to high treatment burden ​​
1
~40 %
2-3
of patients experience
suboptimal response to SoC
~12 %
of medicare Part B annual budget is spent on SoC
4
1: Shahzad, H. et al. Non-adherence and non-persistence to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 12, (2023).
2. Somani, S. et al. Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema Non-Responsive to Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in Ontario, Canada. Clin Ophthalmol 17, 2013 (2023).
3. Bressler, S. B. et al. Persistent Macular Thickening After Ranibizumab Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema With Vision Impairment. JAMA Ophthalmol 134, 278 (2016).
4. Patel, S. Medicare Spending on Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Medications. Ophthalmol Retina 2, 785–791 (2018).
We aim to transform retinal care
We are developing a potentially first-in-class, purpose-designed PPAR-alpha agonist to provide a sustainable, disease-modifying oral therapy for DRD. Our mission is to move beyond the limitations of current care, protecting vision and restoring long-term independence to patients worldwide.