FDA accepts investigational new drug application for Eluminex DME treatment
Key Takeaways
- EB-105 is a new drug in development for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) that targets three classes of proteins involved in the pathogenesis of DME.
- According to the company, the ability to inhibit several biological pathways simultaneously with a single agent offers compelling potential for further incremental benefits in patients with retinal diseases.
Antibodies are proteins that are used by the immune system to neutralize pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. They can also be used as medications to reduce the activity of proteins involved in disease.
The FDA has accepted an investigational new drug application for a special type of antibody that targets three classes of proteins, called a trispecific fusion antibody, for the treatment of DME, according to a press release from Eluminex Biosciences. Unlike current drugs, such as aflibercept, which targets members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, and faricimab, which targets VEGF and angiopoietin-2, EB-105 also targets the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor. In the release, Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, MSc, FARVO, FASRS, said elevated levels of IL-6 are well documented in patients with DME and can contribute to inflammation and vascular permeability (blood vessel leakiness) in other retinal diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration. “High levels of IL-6 may likely be the reason for persistent refractory edema [swelling] in DME patients being treated with current agents such as aflibercept and faricimab,” Nguyen said in the release. “The ability to inhibit several biological pathways simultaneously with a single agent offers compelling potential for further incremental benefits in patients with retinal diseases.”
Eluminex is in the process of forming investment partnerships and alliances to support its initiatives in retinal disease.
Edited by Miriam Kaplan, PhD
Source: Healio Ocular Surgery News, May 2, 2024; see source article