OliX Pharmaceuticals and Laboratoires Théa Partner to Develop OLX301A for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that biopharmaceutical company OliX Pharmaceuticals and Laboratoires Théa have recently signed a collaborative agreement for the development of OLX301A. The two companies announced that they will jointly develop novel therapeutic approaches for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

OliX Pharmaceuticals is a South Korea-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 2010, dedicated to developing novel therapeutic solutions for dermatological, ophthalmic, pulmonary, and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Leveraging its proprietary RNAi technology platform, the company is developing drug candidates for conditions such as hypertrophic scars, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), subretinal fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and advancing them into clinical trials. Notably, OliX Pharmaceuticals’ most advanced therapeutic candidate, OLX101, is a treatment for skin scarring currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials in South Korea.

Laboratoires Théa is a France-based biopharmaceutical company that has been dedicated to the research and development of eye care products for 150 years. It is an industry leader in developing medications for conditions such as glaucoma, allergies, dry eye disease, and ocular and eyelid infections, with its ophthalmic care products sold in more than 70 countries worldwide. Notably, Laboratoires Théa has also developed the first non-steroidal preservative-free anti-allergy eye drops based on the ABAK system.

Age-related macular degeneration is a blinding eye disease, primarily affecting individuals aged 60 and older in developed regions. In the United States, 175 million patients are affected by AMD. Data indicate that the global AMD market is projected to exceed $1.4 billion by 2025.

It is understood that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is classified into two types: dry and wet. The dry form is primarily characterized by atrophic degeneration in the macular region, resulting from choriocapillaris atrophy, thickening of Bruch's membrane, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy. The wet form occurs when damage to Bruch's membrane allows choroidal vessels to invade the subretinal space, forming neovascularization. This leads to a reduced capacity of RPE cells in the macular region to phagocytose and digest the outer segment discs of photoreceptors, ultimately resulting in organized scarring. Currently, treatments for wet AMD include anti-VEGF therapy, laser therapy, transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT), whereas therapeutic options for dry AMD have not yet been developed.

Dong-ki Lee, Founder and CEO of OliX Pharmaceuticals, stated, “We have developed a novel RNAi platform specifically for ocular therapeutics—the cp-asiRNA platform. This platform primarily utilizes chemically synthesized double-stranded RNA to effectively suppress the expression of target genes. Furthermore, the cp-asiRNA platform mitigates the potential side effects associated with existing siRNA technologies. We aim to secure FDA IND approval for OLX301A in the second half of this year and initiate Phase I clinical trials as soon as possible.”

Jean-Frédéric Chibret, Chairman of Laboratoires Théa Group, also stated, “This collaboration aims to expand Théa’s ophthalmic drug portfolio. We hope OLX301A will become the standard of care for both wet and dry AMD.”

It is reported that under this collaboration, OliX Pharmaceuticals and Laboratoires Théa will hold R&D rights for the U.S. and Asian markets, and the European, Middle Eastern, and African markets, respectively. In addition, OliX Pharmaceuticals will receive an additional €2 million in R&D funding.

(Compiled by: Feng Yutong)