Summary of Unity Biotechnology Conference Call Company and Industry - **Company**: Unity Biotechnology - **Industry**: Biotechnology, specifically focusing on treatments for diabetic macular edema (DME) Key Points and Arguments ASPIRE Study Results - The ASPIRE study is a Phase 2b head-to-head study comparing UBX-thirteen twenty five to aflibercept in patients with DME [2][5] - Patients treated with UBX-thirteen twenty five gained over five letters in vision at both 24 and 36 weeks, demonstrating non-inferiority to aflibercept at 9 out of 10 time points [5][6] - Approximately 40% of patients on UBX-thirteen twenty five did not require supplemental anti-VEGF treatment through week 36 [6] - UBX-thirteen twenty five showed better performance in patients with less aggressive disease and those who switched from aflibercept [6][26] Mechanism of Action - UBX-thirteen twenty five is a Bcl XL inhibitor designed to eliminate senescent cells, which are believed to drive disease progression in DME [7][8] - The therapeutic hypothesis suggests that removing senescent cells will reduce inflammation and vascular leak, leading to improved vision [8] Patient Population and Treatment Dynamics - The study enrolled patients with a diagnosis of DME for at least six months, poor vision (less than 70 letters), and a central subfield thickness (CST) of over 325 microns [9] - The baseline characteristics of patients were balanced, with the UBX group having a longer duration of diabetes and DME compared to the aflibercept group [12] - A significant unmet need exists for patients who do not respond optimally to current anti-VEGF therapies, with about 50% discontinuing treatment within six months [30][31] Competitive Landscape - The current treatment paradigm primarily involves anti-VEGF therapies, which have been the standard for over 15 years [38] - There is a notable opportunity for UBX-thirteen twenty five to provide benefits for patients who are suboptimal responders to existing therapies [35] Safety Profile - UBX-thirteen twenty five demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no instances of severe ocular adverse events [24][25] - Treatment-related ocular adverse events were balanced across both treatment arms, with no additional interventions required [25] Future Directions - The next studies will likely focus on the patient population with CST less than 400 microns, as this group showed the most significant benefits [50][51] - Consideration will be given to including newly diagnosed patients in future studies to explore potential benefits [78] - The mechanism of action suggests that the effects of UBX-thirteen twenty five may deepen over time as senescent cells are cleared [80] Closing Remarks - The data from the ASPIRE study indicates that UBX-thirteen twenty five could be a valuable treatment option for patients with DME who are not receiving optimal benefits from current therapies [87] - Unity Biotechnology aims to continue advancing UBX-thirteen twenty five and identify the patient populations that would benefit most from this treatment [87][88]