Foundation Fighting Blindness

Two non-profit professionals talk about plugging into community and finding low-vision resources through the Foundation

Sumitomo Pharma America treated its first patient in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial for an emerging retinitis pigmentosa (RP) treatment called DSP-3077. The clinical trial plans to treat 12 adults with one of two different doses to evaluate safety and effectiveness of the treatment among patients who have RP.

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals announced plans to acquire Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, including its emerging oral treatment for Stargardt disease, gildeuretinol (ALK-001), in a deal valued up to $800 million. Stargardt disease is the most common form of inherited macular degeneration and is often diagnosed in children or teens. There are no current treatments.

In Europe, Science Corporation has commercially launched PRIMA, a retinal implant designed to restore central vision in people with geographic atrophy (GA). The treatment has been shown in clinical trials to restore functional central vision in people with GA who until now had no way to get lost central vision back. While PRIMA is available in Europe, it is still going through FDA approvals in the U.S. Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that leads to progressive vision loss. AMD is the most common cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 55 in developed countries.

Belite Bio’s tinlarebant could become the first-ever approved treatment for Stargardt disease