Single Therapy for Wet AMD and Geographic Atrophy

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Approximately 85% of the total age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients have the Dry form. Geographic atrophy (GA) is the advanced form of Dry AMD and is caused by the degeneration of the retinal epithelial cells. While GA is less common than Wet AMD, it is responsible for 10-20% of legal blindness in the US. There is currently no FDA approved treatment for GA. However, the latest results from a trial evaluating the drug Lampalizumab, an anti-Factor D therapeuticantibody targeted to the alternative complement pathway, provide convincing evidence that the alternative complement pathway plays a key role in the development of vision loss in patients with GA. Complement-mediated destruction of RPE, photoreceptor cells, and Bruch's membrane are the hallmarks of GA. Lampalizumab demonstrated nearly 44% benefit for patients with Dry AMD. NovelMed's lead drug candidate, NM5072, is a superior AP inhibitor and is expected to be more effective and longer lasting, at lowe