Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with potential to treat VEGF-driven disorders such as wet AMD, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy

High potency and pan-VEGF attributes of TKI axitinib

Targeted delivery via SCS Microinjector®

Enhanced durability via small molecule suspension

Axitinib is a highly potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that achieves pan-VEGF inhibition through receptor blockade. We believe that pan-VEGF inhibition is potentially more efficacious than current approaches. Axitinib acts at a different level of the angiogenesis cascade, directly inhibiting VEGF receptors-1, -2, and -3 with high specificity. We believe this broad VEGF blockade may have efficacy advantages over existing retinal therapies and may benefit patients who sub-optimally respond to current, more narrowly focused anti-VEGF therapies. Compared to other TKIs, axitinib is 10x more potent, has better ocular cell biocompatibility, and is preferable for experimental corneal neovascularization.

Current wet AMD therapy has a ceiling of efficacy as increased dosage or more intense regimens yield limited or no additional visual benefit and are associated with a significant treatment burden for patients. This treatment burden is further highlighted by recent large “real-world” retrospective studies of wet AMD which underscore the difficulty in adhering to regimens. These real-world studies demonstrate that patients are undertreated, receiving only 6 to 7 injections per year on average, resulting in mean improvement of only one to three letters in visual acuity after one year of treatment. In contrast, CLS-AX provides targeted high levels to affected choroid-retina to leverage the TKI for potential efficacy benefits.

CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension) is a proprietary suspension of axitinib delivered via our SCS Microinjector and is being developed as a long-acting therapy for the treatment of wet AMD. Delivery via our SCS Microinjector compartmentalizes drug away from the vitreous and anterior chamber. This delivery behind the retina and outside the visual field eliminates symptomatic floaters and certain other side effects from other procedures. In addition, the in-office procedure can be easily adopted in current clinical practice.

Suprachoroidal administration of axitinib has the potential to achieve prolonged duration and targeted delivery to affected tissue layers. This provides meaningful durability after each injection, thus potentially reducing the burden on patients from current monthly injections.

CLS-AX Phase 2b Clinical Trial in Wet AMD

  • Achieved Primary Objective: Stable BCVA to Week 36; Difficult-to-treat Wet AMD participants with confirmed activity

  • Compelling injection free rates: up to 6 months Injection frequency reduced by nearly 84%

  • Positive safety profile: No ocular SAEs or treatment-related SAEs; CLS-AX was well-tolerated after re-dosing

  • Only Phase 2 trial in wet AMD with repeat TKI dosing: data to better inform Phase 3 design

CLS-AX Clinical Trial Results

References:

Medscape: F Ryan Prall, MD, et al Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine | Pennington, Katie L and DeAngelis, Margaret M Eye and Vision, Epidemiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD): associations with cardiovascular disease phenotypes and lipid factors, Dec 22, 2016. | Cabral T et al. Bevacizumab Injection in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Increases Angiogenic Biomarkers. Ophthalmol Retina. 2018 January; 2(1): 31–37. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2017.04.004. | Lieu et al. The Association of Alternate VEGF Ligands with Resistance to Anti-VEGF Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. PLoS ONE 8(10): e77117. | Ciulla TA et al. Ophthalmology Retina. 2019 May 25. pii: S2468-6530(19)30280-5. | Viral S. Kansara, Leroy W. Muya, Thomas A. Ciulla; Evaluation of Long-Lasting Potential of Suprachoroidal Axitinib Suspension Via Ocular and Systemic Disposition in Rabbits. Trans. Vis. Sci. Tech. 2021;10(7):19.