Descripción del proyecto
OphtiMedRx is an ophthalmic drug development start-up company led by a team of exceptional women physicians and scientists led by Dr. Dana Rabinovich. OphtiMedRx is developing a novel drug for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss. There is no available treatment for dry AMD, which affects 8.7% of the population and a further 2 million diagnosed yearly. The occurrence of AMD steadily increases with age, affecting 2% of the population at age 40 and 20% of people over 75. Our drug candidate, delivered by intravitreal (IVT) injection in a clinic setting without hospitalization, targets cellular aging, termed cell senescence. Our product addresses the underlying cause of dry AMD, allowing for early intervention. Targeting the disease at early stages will halt, or significantly slow, dry AMD progression, preserving vision and maintaining quality of life. We are currently performing preclinical R&D studies and plan to be ready for Phase I clinical trials by the end of 2024. A crucial step toward clinical trials is conducting a pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) meeting with the FDA and a scientific advice meeting with EMA officials. These meetings are an opportunity to gain the agency’s feedback on the design of the proposed nonclinical and clinical studies. Additionally, these meetings will help us determine the budget and timeline for transitioning towards phase I clinical trials, as well as set a goal for the next fundraising round. The financial contribution of this grant will go towards consultant fees, a specialized regulatory firm, and FDA/EMA fees. In addition, as a new CEO, I would greatly benefit from the mentoring and coaching provided by EIC’s Business Acceleration Services, which will help me improve my professional skill set, particularly in investor relations, and assist me with my various management and leadership challenges.