Sessions will focus on retinal disease and ocular surface disorders
Newswise — Leading researchers and commercial experts will describe unmet needs as well as promising treatments for retinal disease and ocular surface disorders at an April 29 seminar in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that aims to help investors better understand the scientific and commercial environment of ophthalmic research.
The seminar “Unmet Needs: Emerging Frontiers in Ophthalmic Science” (see www.arvofoundation.org/investors) is being organized by the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER). ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) is the world’s largest organization of eye and vision scientists.
One out of every 28 Americans over the age of 40 currently suffers from a serious, potentially blinding eye disease. These diseases currently affect an estimated 180 million people worldwide. The numbers will increase as populations in the United States and many other countries age in the coming years.
“Modern science and industry have made tremendous progress in preventing and treating eye disease,” explains lead organizer Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD, “but there is still a great need to develop more effective treatments and devices to help alleviate these conditions. Many areas of ophthalmic science require additional research support — and they offer opportunities for commercial development.
“AFER’s Investors Seminar will provide a unique opportunity for private equity managers, venture capitalists, analysts and others to assess the value of emerging early and late stage treatments through an independent scientific and commercial lens. They will also join in discussion with the scientists and commercial experts who are working at the cutting edge of these fields.”
An international group of scientists, clinicians and commercial experts will provide targeted, objective and understandable overviews of the needs and key scientific and clinical advances, as well as the commercial risks and opportunities that such advances will face.
For each of the two areas highlighted in the seminar — retinal diseases and ocular surface disorders — speakers will discuss epidemiology, unmet needs, desired clinical outcomes, regulatory considerations, emergence of potential treatment algorithms, limitations of current therapies and the drivers of market potential.
They will also explore the environment for key scientific advances, including target validation (which mechanisms work), evolving clinical/research and development programs
Speakers include keynote presenter Anthony Adamis, MD, of Genentech; Joan Miller, MD, of Harvard Medical School; Stephen Plugfelder, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine; Reza Dana, MD, MPH, of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Eugene de Juan, MD, of ForSight Labs; and others.
In addition, Scott Pancoast, CEO of Lpath, Inc., a therapeutic antibody company, will share insights about Lpath’s new retinal program partnership with Pfizer, signed in December 2010.
The program also features ample networking opportunities through time set aside for individual meetings with companies and investors, as well as lunch and cocktails.
Complete program, venue and registration information is available at www.arvofoundation.org/investors.
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include more than 12,500 eye and vision researchers from over 80 countries. ARVO encourages and assists research, training, publication and knowledge-sharing in vision and ophthalmology.
The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research complements ARVO's mission to further global eye and vision research by: Promoting scientific interactions and exchange Fostering translational research and moving forward scientific breakthroughs from the laboratory to clinical practice Recruiting and retaining scientists in all fields of vision research
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