Top Emerging Therapies To Watch Out for in the Retinal Vein Occlusion Market

Recent years started witnessing the emergence of novel treatment approaches that have been keeping the Retinal vein occlusion market in a hyped-up state. Looking at the potential of the pipeline therapies they hold once approved, pharmaceutical companies are charting out a seemingly exciting course in the market. Therapies such as dexamethasone drug delivery system and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors have already pierced deeper into the market. The RVO treatment market analysis, states DelveInsight, demonstrated that further research into the treatment of the condition and towards understanding its pathophysiology better shall trace the future course of the RVO market in the next decade. 

Key players such as Novartis, Annexin Pharmaceuticals, Gene Signal, Ocular Therapeutics, and Asclepix Therapeutics along with other pharma companies are investigating their candidates proactively in a quest to launch their therapies as soon as possible in the Retinal vein occlusion market.

Some of the key pipeline therapies expected to make an impact on the Retinal vein occlusion drug market in the foreseeable future are: 

Brolucizumab (RTH258): Novartis is actively advancing the full clinical development program of Brolucizumab, sold under the trade name Beovu, with studies across wet AMD, DME, retinal vein occlusion, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Brolucizumab is a humanized single-chain antibody fragment (scFv). Single-chain antibody fragments are highly regarded in the drug-development chain owing to their small size, enhanced tissue penetration, rapid clearance from the systemic circulation, and drug delivery characteristics.

TLC399 (ProDex): Taiwan Liposome Company is testing TLC399 for the treatment of macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion. The preclinical investigations demonstrated therapeutic levels of DSP in the eye for at least six months after a single administration along with a significant decrease in the thickness of the retina thereby improving vision. BioSeizer formulation of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP), TLC399 is an intravitreal, or in-eye, injection, and is under a larger randomized, double-blind, dose-finding phase II trial. Looking at its potential, the drug is also being watched out in diabetic macular edema in combination with intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs.

GB-102: Graybug Vision is evaluating the molecule in phase II clinical trial, in subjects with diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. It is a once in six months, intravitreal, microparticle depot formulation of the anti-VEGF sunitinib,  a small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that acts as a potent inhibitor of all VEGF pathways. Several shreds of research have mechanistically and clinically demonstrated that more complete inhibition of VEGF pathways could lead to superior patient outcomes implying upper hand sunitinib holds over the current treatments that target only limited VEGF pathways, specifically VEGF-A. 

ONS-5010/Lytenava (bevacizumab): Outlook Therapeutics has recently finished the patient enrollment for its planned open-label safety study evaluating ONS-5010/LYTENAVA (NORSE THREE). ONS-5010 is the first FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab-vikg for retinal indications. The open-label safety study enrolled 195 subjects with a range of retinal diseases for which an anti-VEGF drug is a therapeutic option, including wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). The drug if approved will help minimize the use of unapproved repackaged IV bevacizumab from compounding pharmacists for retinal disease. 

AR-1105: Aerie Pharmaceuticals reported positive topline results of phase 2 clinical trial evaluating AR-1105, a dexamethasone intravitreal, fully biodegradable PRINT-manufactured implant in patients with macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion. The company has plans to initiate new trials for the product however not until the second half of 2021. Exciting results of the trial indicate a high potential therapy that can deliver a long-acting treatment for patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion. 

Besides these several other pipeline therapies are in different stages of clinical trials that open doors to exciting opportunities and may prove to be the bounty therapies for pharmaceutical companies striving in the Retinal vein occlusion market. DelveInsight estimates a modest growth rate of the Retinal vein occlusion market size during the study period 2017-30. Expected launches at present in phase II trials such as TLC399, AR-1105, and GB-102 are anticipated to bode well in the market in the forecast period (2020–2030). However, it will not be a smooth road for the pipeline therapies as already marketed therapies are going to pose a stiff competitive environment to welcome them. 

Further, cost consciousness is one factor that might result in hesitation of the patient pool to opt for therapies. Since there are no present treatment regimens that can reverse the condition, thus, a focus is required towards visual restoration. Market invasion of biosimilars is also expected to hamper the market growth and might compel the pharmaceutical companies in the RVO market to seek ways to extend patents for their novel therapies. 

In a nutshell, the Retinal vein occlusion market size is anticipated to grow decently during the study period 2017-30 as key pharma companies are proactively seeking to launch their therapies for the rising patient pool of RVO is increasing, which can again be attributed to an increase in the prevalence of diabetes, changes in lifestyle, rise in the incidence of glaucoma as well as an overall rise in the geriatric population. Unmet needs in the market offer a bright opportunity to the scientific community and pharma companies to flex their scientific muscles and expand their portfolio by adding a more durable response along with less frequent clinic visits and with a better safety profile.