Key points from article :
UNITY Biotechnology’s lead asset, UBX1325, failed to show non-inferiority to Eylea (aflibercept) in a Phase II wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) trial.
The 24-week data are from the proof-of-concept Envision study of UBX1325, a Bcl-xL inhibitor.
Involved 51 wAMD patients who received either UBX1325 or anti-VEGF agent aflibercept.
The trial used the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) to assess the therapies.
The 3.5 ETDRS letter gain with aflibercept was mostly maintained for the study’s duration.
UBX1325 monotherapy, meanwhile, reduced letters by 0.8 from baseline.
52% of patients who received UBX1325 did not require anti-VEGF treatment throughout the 24 weeks trial.
UNITY CEO Anirvan Ghosh said the company plans to optimize its resource allocation to continue developing UBX1325 after a full analysis of the trial results.
Will update long-term extension portion of the Envision trial in the coming weeks.
Conducting pre-clinical evaluations of UBX1325 to treat diabetic macular edema (DME).
UNITY CMO Jamie Dananberg said that the relatively stronger efficacy in DME may be due to distinct pathophysiologies of the two diseases.
The company also plans to present 48-week data on the Behold DME trial in the coming weeks.
