• Optos Plc expanded the optomap ultra-widefield (UWF) retinal imaging modalities available with the California FA device to further assist ophthalmologists in disease management and treatment planning. In addition to optomap color rg (red/green), sensory red-free, choroidal, autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography modalities, Optos introduced the first UWF color rgb (red/green/blue) image. The new image modality is captured simultaneous to the optomap color rg image — a single capture delivers two color UWF images.

• Thea Pharma announced the launch of the Preservative Freedom Coalition to raise awareness of unmet needs in ocular surface disease and opportunities to pursue preservative-free topical ophthalmic medications. In addition to Thea, founding members of this company and brand-agnostic initiative include: The Glaucoma Foundation, The Intrepid Eye Society, National Medical Association Ophthalmology Section and Real World Ophthalmology. The three key areas of focus for the coalition will be education around the benefits of preservative-free medications to increase awareness of the need to protect the ocular surface; collaborating to ensure that preservative-free medications are available by addressing distribution barriers and promoting equitable access; and advocating for policies that put preservative-free first, to create a more favorable regulatory and reimbursement environment.

• Prevent Blindness has once again declared June as Cataract Awareness Month in an effort to provide patients, care partners and professionals with information on topics related to types of cataract, risk factors, symptoms, cataract surgery and available financial assistance resources. The group offers a dedicated web resource at PreventBlindness.org/cataract, and free materials in English and Spanish, such as social media graphics and fact sheets (like the printable “Guide to Cataract Surgery” fact sheet). Prevent Blindness also offers the “Understanding Cataract” episode of its “Focus on Eye Health Expert Series,” where Jeff Todd, Prevent Blindness president and CEO, discusses cataract and cataract surgery with Albert Cheung, MD.

• Annexon Inc. announced topline results from its ARCHER Phase 2 trial of ANX007 in patients with geographic atrophy (GA), demonstrating a statistically significant, dose-dependent preservation of visual function. Results from the 12-month treatment period of ARCHER showed that patients treated monthly and every-other-month with ANX007 were protected against vision loss as measured by changes from baseline in the widely accepted functional endpoint of BCVA. Patients in the monthly treatment group showed a 72% reduction in risk of 15-letter loss (n=89, p=0.006), and patients in the every-other-month treatment group showed a 48% reduction in risk of 15-letter loss (n=92, p=0.064). Patients in the pooled treatment group showed a 59% reduction in risk of >15-letter loss (n=181, p=0.008). The primary endpoint of mean rate of change (slope) in GA lesion area compared to sham at 12 months did not reach statistical significance. For more, see the study results here.

• Clearside Biomedical announced enrollment has opened in ODYSSEY, its Phase 2b randomized, double-masked, parallel-group, active-controlled, multi-center clinical trial of 36 weeks duration of CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension) using suprachoroidal delivery in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The primary outcome measure for the trial is mean change in BCVA from baseline to week 36. Secondary outcome measures include other changes in visual function and ocular anatomy, such as central subfield thickness, need for supplemental treatment and treatment burden as measured by total injections over trial duration.

• Nacuity Pharmaceuticals announced that target enrollment of 48 patients has been reached in the SLO-RP Phase 1/2 clinical trial of NPI-001 tablets in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) associated with Usher syndrome (USH). The SLO-RP trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter, double-masked, dose-escalation trial designed to assess the clinical safety, tolerability and efficacy of NPI-001 tablets vs placebo in patients with RP associated with USH. Patients will be followed for 2 years in the core study to assess efficacy. The protocol has been amended to allow continued treatment beyond 2 years for interested participants while the trial is ongoing. To date, all eligible participants have elected to continue on treatment.

• Horizon Therapeutics announced the publication of new data from the Phase 3 N-MOmentum pivotal trial of UPLIZNA in the The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The new data provides insights on serum biomarkers that signal acute attacks and disability worsening associated with NMOSD and illustrate the role of UPLIZNA in reducing these biomarker levels, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of these attacks. The trial identified important biomarker trends associated with NMOSD attacks. Throughout the 28-week randomized controlled trial period and the 2-year open-label follow-up period, the concentration of all four biomarkers increased during NMOSD attacks, and in the days leading up to attacks. Of the four biomarkers evaluated in the trial, serum neurofilament light chain measured at the time of attack was the strongest predictor of worsening disability during and after attacks. For more, see the study results here.

• Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine used artificial intelligence (AI) models and machine-learning algorithms to successfully predict which components of amino acids that make up therapeutic proteins are most likely to safely deliver therapeutic drugs to animal eye cells. The project holds promise for advancing new and more tolerable drug treatments for common chronic blinding eye diseases, including glaucoma and macular degeneration. Published in Nature Communications, the research showed that AI-designed models accurately predicted an effective sequence of amino acids, also known as peptides or small proteins, that would bind to a particular chemical in rabbit eye cells and safely dispense medications over several weeks, reducing the need for frequent, strict treatment schedules. The team specifically investigated peptides that bind to melanin, a compound that provides color to the eye but has the advantage of being widely present throughout specialized structures in eye cells. For more, see the study results here.

Quick Notes is published weekly. Unless otherwise noted, the information presented is based on press releases. Find earlier editions here. To submit a press release to be considered for publication, click here.