Eye drop could prevent blood vessel growth

Roanoke, VA-OcuCure Therapeutics Inc. has received $1.5 million in seed financing to develop a topical eye drop for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry AMD prophylaxis.

The company's therapeutic compounds are selective tubulin inhibitors that prevent new blood vessels from sprouting and directly target the elimination of newly formed blood vessels. The company believes the dual mechanism will lead to better long-term visual outcomes. The compound possibly could be used alone or in AMD combination therapy, according to Sunder Malkani, president and chief executive officer of OcuCure.

"Our seed financing has enabled us to obtain evidence of efficacy for our topical eye drop in wet AMD animal models," Malkani said. "Because of this efficacy, the topical eye drop could also be used as a prophylactic treatment for dry AMD."