SAB comprised of leading experts in ophthalmology to provide strategic support for the advancement of Azura’s first-in-class Ophthalmic Keratolytics
TEL AVIV, Israel & MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE )--Azura Ophthalmics Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new therapeutic class of Ophthalmic Keratolytics for ocular surface diseases, today announced the formation of its scientific advisory board (SAB), comprised of leading academic and industry innovators. Bringing decades of expertise across ophthalmology, the SAB members will collaborate closely with the Azura team to support the company’s clinical development and advance the company’s pipeline to address the full spectrum of lid margin and ocular surface diseases.
“At Azura we believe our highly differentiated approach positions us to deliver a first-in-class therapeutic that goes beyond symptom management and resolves the root cause of ocular surface diseases,” said Marc Gleeson, CEO of Azura Ophthalmics. “We are thrilled to see our vision backed by such an esteemed group of leaders in ophthalmology who will undoubtedly serve as an invaluable resource as we advance our lead product candidate, AZR-MD-001, for the potential treatment of underserved ocular indications. Each member of Azura’s scientific advisory board is equipped with an unmatched wealth of knowledge in ophthalmology and we look forward to partnering with them to progress our robust clinical development pipeline forward.”
Founding members of Azura’s SAB include:
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is a chronic and progressive condition associated with blockage of the meibomian glands and alteration in the quality of expressed meibum. It is the leading cause of Dry Eye Disease (DED) and Contact Lens Discomfort (CLD).1,2 MGD is commonly characterized by terminal duct obstruction and/or qualitative/quantitative changes in the glandular secretion.3 There are no approved prescription pharmaceutical agents that specifically treat these glandular changes. If left untreated, MGD will alter the tear film, which can initiate or exacerbate additional ocular surface diseases such as DED, resulting in corneal ulcers, ocular infections, and blindness.
Azura’s lead clinical-stage drug candidate, AZR-MD-001 harnesses the power of selenium sulfide (SeS2) in an easy-to-use ophthalmic ointment preparation applied directly to the meibomian glands. AZR-MD-001 is thought to have a multi-modal mechanism of action that treats the pathophysiology of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) along with the resulting ocular surface symptoms. It breaks down the bonds between abnormal keratin proteins to soften the blockage, slows down the production of keratin to prevent future blockages and increases the quantity of lipid produced by the meibomian glands.
AZR-MD-001 is currently being studied in a Phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety, efficacy and tolerability of the study drug in patients with MGD and Evaporative Dry Eye Disease (DED). Azura expects to report Phase 2b three-month topline data in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Azura Ophthalmics is utilizing our deep understanding of ocular surface diseases and drug development to deliver a new therapeutic class of Ophthalmic Keratolytics to treat underserved ophthalmic conditions. Our differentiated approach combines ophthalmologic and dermatologic solutions to harness the unique properties of keratolytics to treat the root cause of numerous underserved ocular indications. Our internally discovered pipeline of new chemical entities allows us to develop a portfolio of first-in-class ophthalmic therapeutics for significant unmet needs. For more information visit: www.azuraophthalmics.com and follow Azura on LinkedIn and Twitter.
1. Milner, M. S., Beckman, K. A., Luchs, J. I., Allen, Q. B., Awdeh, R. M., Berdahl, J., Boland, T. S., Buznego, C., Gira, J. P., Goldberg, D. F., Goldman, D., Goyal, R. K., Jackson, M. A., Katz, J., Kim, T., Majmudar, P. A., Malhotra, R. P., McDonald, M. B., Rajpal, R. K., Raviv, T., … Yeu, E. (2017). Dysfunctional tear syndrome: dry eye disease and associated tear film disorders – new strategies for diagnosis and treatment. Current opinion in ophthalmology, 27 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), 3–47. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.icu.0000512373.81749.b7.
2. Foulks GN, Bran AJ. Meibomian gland dysfunction: a clinical scheme for description, diagnosis, classification, and grading. Ocul Surf. 2003;1:107-126.
3. Efron N, Jones L, Bron AJ, et al. The TFOS International Workshop on Contact Lens Discomfort: Report of the Contact Lens Interactions With the Ocular Surface and Adnexa Subcommittee. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:TFOS98–TFOS122.
Investors: Ashwin Agarwal Chief Financial Officer 949-439-1865 ashwin.agarwal@azuraophthalmics.com
Media: Tara Mulloy MacDougall Advisors 781-235-3060 tmulloy@macdougall.bio
Azura Ophthalmics announces the formation of its scientific advisory board, comprised of leading experts in ophthalmology.
Investors: Ashwin Agarwal Chief Financial Officer 949-439-1865 ashwin.agarwal@azuraophthalmics.com
Media: Tara Mulloy MacDougall Advisors 781-235-3060 tmulloy@macdougall.bio