EyePoint & Rallybio Announce Research Collaboration

Rallybio Corporation and EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc recently announced a research collaboration. The partnership will evaluate sustained delivery of Rallybio’s inhibitor of complement component 5 (C5) using EyePoint’s proprietary Durasert technology for sustained intraocular drug delivery. The initial focus will be on geographic atrophy, an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration that leads to irreversible vision loss.

“We are excited to begin this research collaboration to explore the combination of Rallybio’s C5 inhibitor with our bioerodible Durasert sustained-release drug delivery technology to develop a potential long-acting treatment for geographic atrophy,” said Jay Duker, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals. “Geographic atrophy associated with dry macular degeneration is a devastating eye disease, and the inhibition of complement is a proven treatment pathway. We hope to leverage our Durasert technology in this collaboration to create a potential best-in-class, long-acting intravitreal insert, which we believe could provide a more desirable option for patients given that the existing approved therapy is injected every 1 to 2 months.”

“EyePoint’s proprietary Durasert sustained release technology combined with our differentiated C5 inhibitor offers the potential for a new, long-acting therapeutic for the treatment of eye diseases. Importantly, it’s a potential treatment option that requires less frequent intraocular injections with comparable efficacy that could provide a greatly improved alternative for patients. The use of C5 inhibitors for the treatment of eye disease has shown great promise, and we are excited to initiate this research in the hopes of improving the lives of patients suffering from eye diseases, such as geographic atrophy,” said Steve Uden, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer of Rallybio.

Under the terms of the research collaboration, EyePoint and Rallybio will collaborate to explore and assess the viability of utilizing Rallybio’s C5 inhibitor in EyePoint’s sustained release Durasert technology, with the intention to expand the collaboration upon mutual agreement following the evaluation.

Approximately 1 million people in the US are affected by geographic atrophy (GA), a progressive, advanced stage of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that can occur in patients with the wet form of AMD as well. GA is characterized by atrophic lesions in the central region of the macula, which cause irreversible vision loss and can lead to legal blindness. Patients may experience scotomas or “blind spots” in their central vision, along with distorted vision and decreased contrast sensitivity. One or both eyes can be affected. As currently available US FDA-approved treatments for GA are limited in both choice and duration of action, there remains a significant unmet need for safe, effective and durable treatment options for patients living with this chronic disease.

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: EYPT) is a company committed to developing and commercializing therapeutics to help improve the lives of patients with serious eye disorders. The company’s pipeline leverages its proprietary Durasert technology for sustained intraocular drug delivery including EYP-1901, an investigational sustained delivery intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. The proven Durasert drug delivery platform has been safely administered to thousands of patients’ eyes across four US FDA-approved products, including YUTIQ for the treatment of posterior segment uveitis, which is currently marketed by the company. EyePoint Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Watertown, MA.

Rallybio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to identifying and accelerating the development of life-transforming therapies for patients with severe and rare diseases. Since its launch in January 2018, Rallybio has built a portfolio of promising product candidates, which are now in development to address rare diseases in the areas of hematology, immuno-inflammation, maternal fetal health, and metabolic disorders. The Company’s mission is being advanced by a team of highly experienced biopharma industry leaders with extensive research, development, and rare disease expertise. Rallybio is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, with an additional facility at the University of Connecticut’s Technology Incubation Program in Farmington, CT.