Exonate at RANZCO – 8-12th November 2019, International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC)
RANZCO is the medical college responsible for the training and professional development of ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand. Our mission is to drive improvements in eye healthcare in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region through continuing exceptional training, education, research and advocacy. The Annual RANZCO Scientific Congress is the highlight scientific event of the College, bringing together ophthalmologists, trainees and allied health eyecare professionals from across Australia, New Zealand and internationally to share the latest clinical, scientific, research and practice developments in eye care.
This is a significant year for RANZCO as 2019 marks 50 years of this independent college of ophthalmologists in Australia. As such, the Congress will be an extraordinary meeting with memorable opportunities to reflect on the past whilst anticipating the future.
Catherine Beech, CEO and members of Exonate’s management team will be available for meetings whilst there and contact can be made via Sarah Buchallet. sarah.buchallet@exonate.com.
Exonate’s strategy is to introduce a revolutionary, game-changing eye drop for the treatment of retinal vascular diseases, including wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD) and Diabetic Macular Oedema (DMO), by using mRNA targeted therapies. Exonate has developed small molecules that inhibit the production of pro-angiogenic VEGF through the selective inhibition of serine/threonine-protein kinase (SRPK1)-mediated VEGF splicing.
Contacts:
Exonate Limited
Sarah Buchallet, Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 734710
Email: sarah.buchallet@exonate.com
About Exonate:
Exonate is a privately held, early stage, biotech company spun out of the University of Nottingham that is focused on alternative splicing of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in ophthalmology. Exonate’s lead programme is focused on Diabetic Macular Oedema (DMO). A consequence of diabetic retinopathy, DMO, is swelling in an area of the retina called the macula and wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD), which is the leading cause of vision loss in people aged 60 and older. The Company is founded on scientific excellence with strong links to Professor David Bates and his lab at Nottingham University specialising in the biology and biochemical pathways of VEGF splice variants.
Exonate have developed small molecules that inhibit production of pro-angiogenic VEGF through selective inhibition of serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (SRPK1)-mediated VEGF splicing. These inhibitors have already demonstrated superior efficacy as topical agents in preclinical models of wet AMD. Through a Wellcome Trust funded project, Exonate will complete an optimisation programme to nominate a pre-clinical candidate drug with optimal characteristics ahead of regulatory toxicology and safety pharmacology studies which will support an application to the regulatory authorities for clinical evaluation. Exonate expects to reach this milestone and enter the clinic in early 2020.
Exonate is led by an experienced, international management team that has previously worked together with cross-disciplinary experience in medicine and drug development, as well as successful fundraising for early stage companies.
About Diabetic Macular Oedema (DMO)*:
DMO is the build-up of fluid (Oedema) in a region of the retina called the macula. The macula is important for the sharp, straight-ahead vision that is used for reading, recognising faces, and driving. DMO is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetic retinopathy. About half of all people with diabetic retinopathy will develop DMO and although it is more likely to occur as diabetic retinopathy worsens, DMO can happen at any stage of the disease.
About wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wet AMD):
Today, wet AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in people aged 60 years or older and affects more than 30 million patients worldwide, over 200,000 of those in the UK alone. If untreated patients are likely to lose sight in the affected eye within 24 months of disease onset.
The main currently available treatment options for DMO and wet AMD are:
· anti-VEGF antibody drugs – to prevent the growth of new blood vessels in the eye. Unlike small molecule drugs or eye drops these treatments must be injected into the eye once every 1 or 2 months. Resistance can develop to these drugs causing the disease to progress anew.
· Laser surgery – to destroy abnormal blood vessels in the eye. This type of surgery is only suitable if blood vessel damage is not too extensive and if the abnormal blood vessels aren't close to the fovea, as performing surgery close to this part of the eye can cause permanent vision loss.
· With DMO, Corticosteroids either injected or implanted into the eye, may be used alone or in combination with other drugs or laser surgery to treat DMO.
*source: https://nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy
Please contact Sarah Buchallet at Exonate for further information 01223 734710 sarah.buchallet@exonate.com