NovelMed Therapeutics, a biotech company founded in 2003 that develops treatments for macular degeneration, announced that it has developed an antibody compound that is effective in treating wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and possibly the dry form of the disease as well. AMD affects more than two million people in the United States and is a leading cause of blindness among adults.

Two independent pre-clinical investigations showed that NovelMed's lead compound, an alternative pathway inhibitor, prevents wet-AMD. “We believe our technology inhibits the progression of AMD,” says Rekha Bansal, CEO and founder of NovelMed. “The animal data supports treatment for wet AMD. The compound could possibly treat the dry form as well, which accounts for 90 percent of the AMD market.”

Bansal says the therapy currently is in the manufacturing phase, with safety studies scheduled to begin next year and human clinical trials to start in late 2014.

“I think we are at the forefront in time with the potential to treat both wet and dry AMD,” says Bansal. “It’s the first treatment of its kind.”

Bansal is proud that this breakthrough is happening in Northeast Ohio. “This is a drug coming out of Cleveland for vision loss,” she says. “It’s going to be a great thing for Cleveland.”

NovelMed currently has four R&D positions open due to its recent growth.

Source: Rekha Bansal
Writer: Karin Connelly