Summary of Clearside Biomedical Conference Call Company Overview - Clearside Biomedical focuses on delivering therapeutic agents to the suprachoroidal space, pioneering a proprietary injection procedure and device for this purpose [4][5] - Established partnerships with Oral Biosciences and REGENXBIO for developing treatments for choroidal melanoma and retinal diseases [5][6] - Commercialization partnerships with Bausch and Lomb and Arctic Vision for their FDA-approved product XIPERE, which delivers triamcinolone to the suprachoroidal space [6] Core Product and Development - XIPERE has shown better performance in terms of duration and effect than predicted by pharmacokinetic models, leading to increased acceptance among physicians [10][14] - Development of CLS AX (axitinib) for wet AMD, with successful completion of phase 2b ODICEY trial, positioning it as a phase 3 ready product [7][8] - The product aims for flexible dosing with a duration comparable to biologics, targeting a market need for variability in patient responses [16][26] Competitive Landscape - CLS AX is positioned against current TKI competitors that offer a six-month duration, with Clearside aiming for a three to six-month duration to accommodate patient variability [15][21] - The company believes its product has a better efficacy profile due to a lower IC50 and a more favorable redosing criteria compared to competitors [19][20] - Emphasis on the absence of ocular serious adverse events (SAEs) in their trials, which contrasts with some competitors [20] Regulatory Strategy - The phase 3 trial is designed to last two years, with a primary endpoint at 52 weeks, allowing for two cycles of treatment [31][32] - The trial design aims to minimize variability by excluding patients with high variability in results, which has been accepted by regulatory agencies [39][42] - The company is focused on a non-inferiority design with good masking to mitigate regulatory risks associated with treatment failures [48][49] Funding and Future Plans - Ongoing outreach to strategic partners and potential investors to fund the advancement of CLS AX into phase 3 trials [50] - The company is exploring various funding options, including combinations of investors and strategic partnerships [50] Additional Insights - The acceptance of suprachoroidal injections is increasing, with over 15,000 injections performed and more than 100 peer-reviewed publications supporting the procedure [14] - The company believes that the flexibility in dosing frequency will be appealing to physicians and align with real-world clinical practices [44][45]

Core Insights - Clearside Biomedical has successfully completed an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA, leading to alignment on the Phase 3 program design for CLS-AX in wet AMD [1][5] - The company aims for a flexible three-to-six-month dosing label for CLS-AX, which is expected to be commercially attractive if approved [2][5] - Significant progress has been made by Clearside's partners in advancing their programs, including approvals and ongoing clinical trials [2][5] Recent Highlights - BioCryst Pharmaceuticals has received authorization to initiate its first clinical trial in Australia for avoralstat, targeting diabetic macular edema [5] - Arctic Vision's NDA for ARCATUS has been accepted for review in China, with approvals already granted in Australia and Singapore [5] - Over 15 presentations on suprachoroidal drug delivery were made at major ophthalmic medical meetings this year, showcasing advancements in retinal disease treatments [1][5] Financial Results - License and other revenue for Q1 2025 was $2.3 million, a significant increase from $0.2 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to license fees from partners [8][11] - R&D expenses decreased to $4.5 million in Q1 2025 from $5.6 million in Q1 2024, attributed to lower clinical trial costs [8][11] - The net loss for Q1 2025 was $8.2 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to a net loss of $11.8 million, or $0.17 per share, in Q1 2024 [8][11] Company Overview - Clearside Biomedical focuses on revolutionizing the delivery of therapies to the back of the eye through the suprachoroidal space, aiming to improve patient outcomes [6] - The company's lead program, CLS-AX, is in development for the treatment of wet AMD, with plans for a Phase 3 program underway [6] - Clearside has developed its first product, XIPERE, which is commercially available in the U.S. through a partner [6][9]