Episode 3: Antibody Biopolymer Conjugates for Ophthalmology

Bridging Business and Biotechnology: Kodiak Sciences Is Increasing Treatment Efficacy for Retinal Diseases

Victor Perlroth, MD, the Chairman and CEO of Kodiak Sciences, discusses how the company’s ABC platform medicines are designed to treat the leading causes of blindness.

 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults worldwide. This disease deteriorates the macula, a miraculous little spot on your retina that allows for precise vision in good light. Although several treatments exist for macular deterioration, they require frequent trips to the doctor’s office for uncomfortable but quick and routine injections directly into the eye. The required frequency of the treatments means that most patients miss appointments, leading to undertreatment of the disease and permanent vision loss. In a manufacturing collaboration with Lonza, Kodiak is designing novel antibody-biopolymer conjugate (or ABC) medicines with the same efficacy and safety with much longer durability, allowing patients to visit the doctor on a realistic schedule over the long term. By focusing on business implementation alongside formidable biotech R&D, Kodiak Sciences is on track to bring together the necessary clinical and manufacturing elements for an FDA filing in 2023.

 

Curious to Know More?

In this most recent episode of “A View On,” Lonza’s Martina Hestericová is joined by Victor Perlroth, MD, the Chairman and CEO of Kodiak Sciences, to talk about the recent developments in AMD treatment research.

 

 KEY TERMS:

 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common degenerative disease of the retina. There are two types of AMD:

Dry AMD occurs when the formation of debris (drusen) on the retina causes the macula to deteriorate over time. Patients sometimes experience vision loss and frequently experience substantial functional limitations, including vision fluctuations, loss of peripheral vision, and reduced night vision.

Wet AMD is an advanced form of AMD. While wet AMD represents only 10% of the number of cases of AMD overall, it is responsible for 90% of AMD-related cases of severe vision loss. Wet AMD occurs when the growth of abnormal blood vessels underneath the macula leads to leakage of fluid and blood, which leads to visual distortion, acute vision loss, and total blindness if left untreated.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a sub-family of factors that stimulate the growth of blood vessels. In the case of AMD, these VEGF are overexpressed, creating leaking in the macula. This leakiness causes fluid to exit from blood vessels, causing swelling – or edema – of the retina and loss of vision.

An antibody biopolymer conjugate (ABC) is Kodiak Science’s proprietary platform for designing and developing drugs into the retina. The antibody in the KSI-301 molecule inhibits VEGF, while the biopolymer is comprised of phosphorylcholine, which creates a sort of “water cloak” around the antibody to increase its effectiveness.

Phosphorylcholine is a natural component of the cell membrane of all the cells in our body, with remarkable properties. It attracts and binds water in a very strong – even permanent – way, creating what is known as “structured water,” which then impacts all biological interactions in the local area.