AMD Disease Overview - AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) affects one in eight people 60 years or older and is the most common cause of blindness in developed countries [8] - An estimated 200 million people worldwide have AMD, projected to reach nearly 300 million by 2040 [8] - Wet AMD is characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the retina, damaging the macula and distorting central vision [7] Current Treatment & Limitations - Current gold standard treatment is anti-VEGF therapy, requiring direct eye injections every 4-6 weeks for 2 years or longer [16][23] - Anti-VEGF therapy, while effective in slowing vision loss and sometimes restoring sight, presents a significant treatment burden on patients, families, physicians, and the healthcare system [14][16][17] - Anti-VEGF drugs have a short half-life in the eye, necessitating repeated injections [17][18] Novel Drug Delivery System - The company is developing a biodegradable microsphere hydrogel composite system for sustained release of anti-VEGF drugs [19] - This system aims to maintain a relatively constant anti-VEGF level in the eye, potentially extending the duration between injections to 6-7 months [19][22] - The system is designed to be injectable using the same procedure, minimizing the need for physicians to adapt to new techniques [20] - Preclinical studies have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the drug delivery system [21]