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GENERATION 2.0

Inspired to build the world’s leading high-science retina pipeline

OUR PIPELINE


Our pipeline is designed to address key limitations of today’s therapies across a broad spectrum of retinal diseases.

OUR CANDIDATES


Tarcocimab tedromer
Anti-VEGF

KSI-501
Anti-IL-6, VEGF trap

KSI-101
Anti-IL-6, VEGF trap

Multi-mechanistic medicines
1 Molecule, Many targets

Tarcocimab tedromer
Anti-VEGF

An investigational anti-VEGF biologic designed for strong immediacy and high durability


Tarcocimab is our most advanced program and one successful pivotal study away from a Biologic License Application (BLA) in 3 major retinal vascular diseases.

Tarcocimab is an anti-VEGF Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate (ABC) being developed to provide strong immediacy and high durability. Across multiple studies in high-prevalence retinal vascular diseases, tarcocimab demonstrated consistent 6-month predominant durability and favorable safety. With a flexible 1-month through 6-month label, we believe tarcocimab can be the “mainstay” intravitreal biologic for all patients.

1. Across tarcocimab tedromer pivotal studies for diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and wet age-related macular degeneration.
2. According to the product label for aflibercept, high-dose aflibercept, faricimab and ranibizumab.

The enhanced formulation is engineered for immediate and durable VEGF inhibition


The enhanced formulation of tarcocimab includes unconjugated and conjugated protein. The unconjugated protein is designed to deliver a strong “pulse” of VEGF inhibition and the conjugated protein is designed to persist in the eye to provide sustained disease control.

  • Tarcocimab is designed as a first-in-class anti-VEGF therapy that provides both strong immediacy and sustained durability

Tarcocimab and the Science of Durability

Tarcocimab is an ABC medicine built to last. This designed-in durability is supported by clinical data and is what we call our science of durability.

See the data

Our Phase 3 studies across high-prevalence retinal diseases


Three Phase 3 studies complete in three major retinal diseases. Primary endpoint met and compelling durability demonstrated.

GLOW1 Study
Diabetic Retinopathy

Study Design

  • 253 patients
  • Tarcocimab Q24W vs sham
  • Superiority study

Primary Endpoint

Extended Durability

See Results

BEACON Study
Retinal Vein Occlusion

Study Design

  • 568 patients
  • Tarcocimab Q8W vs aflibercept Q4W

Primary Endpoint

Extended Durability

See Results

DAYLIGHT Study
Wet Age-Related
Macular Degeneration

Study Design

  • 557 patients
  • Tarcocimab Q4W vs aflibercept Q8W

Primary Endpoint

Extended Durability

Not applicable
See Results

In addition to these studies, tarcocimab was also studied in the Phase 2b/3 DAZZLE study in wet AMD and in the Phase 3 GLEAM and GLIMMER studies in DME. These studies did not meet primary endpoint but did demonstrate strong 5 and 6-month durability in the majority of patients.

Two new Phase 3 studies in process using the enhanced formulation of tarcocimab.

GLOW2 Study
Diabetic Retinopathy

Study Design

250 patients

Tarcocimab Q24W

Superiority study

Uses enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation

Anticipated Timing

Enrollment complete

DAYBREAK Study
Wet Age-Related
Macular Degeneration

Study Design

Designed as a registrational study for both tarcocimab and tabirafusp

Tarcocimab objective: assess 6-month durability potential with individualized Q4W-Q24W dosing

Tabirafusp objective: explore efficacy potential of bispecific IL-6 and VEGF inhibition in fixed Q8W dosing with additional individualized monthly dosing

Uses enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation

Anticipated Timing

Actively Recruiting

Our objective is for tarcocimab to be a “mainstay” intravitreal biologic monotherapy that provides high efficacy and high durability for all patients

Results from our Phase 3 clinical studies


Tarcocimab demonstrated differentiated durability in the GLOW1 study in diabetic retinopathy and in the BEACON study in retinal vein occlusion.

GLOW1 Phase 3 study in diabetic retinopathy1

  • Patients treated with tarcocimab received only 4 injections in Year 1

  • Tarcocimab demonstrated superiority in ≥2-step and ≥3-step improvement in DRSS

  • Tarcocimab reduced the risk of developing a pre-specified sight-threatening complication by ~90%

Any Sight-Threatening Complication

DME CST of ≥320 and a 5-letter decrease in BCVA from Day 1; or CST of ≥350
PDR NVD or NVE, or VH
ASNV ASNV or NVG

1.The Phase 3 GLOW1 study is a global, multi-center, randomized pivotal study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tarcocimab in patients with treatment-naïve, moderately severe to severe DR. All patients were randomized to receive either tarcocimab every six months after 3 initiating doses or to receive sham injections.

DRSS: diabetic retinopathy severity scale; DME; diabetic macular edema; PDR; proliferative diabetic retinopathy; ASNV: anterior segment neovascularization; CST; central subfield thickness; BCVA; best corrected visual acuity; NVD: neovascularization of the disc; NVE; neovascularization elsewhere; VH: vitreous hemorrhage; NVG; neovascular glaucoma.Weighted percentages are based on weighted average of observed estimates across strata using CMH weights. p-values are based on the difference in response rates.

BEACON Phase 3 study in retinal vein occlusion2

  • Tarcocimab Q8W was non-inferior to aflibercept Q4W in all RVO patients at 6 months, thereby doubling the treatment interval

  • Approximately half of tarcocimab-treated patients were injection free in the second 6 months of the study


  • Despite fewer injections in tarcocimab-treated patients, vision outcomes at Year 1 favored tarcocimab-treated patients achieving an observed mean of 74.6 letters versus 74.3 letters for aflibercept-treated patients

  • Treatment burden distribution through 48 weeks had minimal overlap, favoring tarcocimab in both BRVO and All RVO patients

2. The Phase 3 BEACON study is a global, multi-center, randomized study designed to evaluate the durability, efficacy and safety of tarcocimab tedromer Q8W vs. aflibercept Q4W in patients with macular edema due to RVO.

KSI-501
Anti-IL-6, VEGF trap

First-in-class

An investigational anti-IL-6 and VEGF trap bispecific biologic designed for higher efficacy and higher durability


KSI-501 is a bispecific Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate (ABC) designed to address two key unmet needs in high-prevalence retinal vascular diseases – higher efficacy and higher durability – by targeting retinal inflammation and vascular permeability simultaneously.

Inflammation has been shown to play a significant role in high-prevalence retinal vascular diseases. However, no treatments exist that concurrently address vascular permeability and inflammation. KSI-501 is designed to inhibit VEGF and IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine and immune growth factor, combining two powerful mechanisms of action to address retinal vascular disease and the underlying inflammatory cascade.

KSI-501 is designed for highly efficient binding to both IL-6 and VEGF


The anti-permeability effect of VEGF inhibition is the primary effector, with the anti-inflammatory effect of IL-6 inhibition offering the potential for additional clinical benefits.

See electron microscopy image of KSI-501

Negative-stain electron microscopy images of KSI-501

The enhanced formulation is engineered for immediate and durable bispecific inhibition


The enhanced formulation of KSI-501 includes unconjugated and conjugated protein. The unconjugated protein is designed to deliver a strong “pulse” and the conjugated protein is designed to persist in the eye to provide sustained disease control.

IL-6 levels are significantly elevated in eyes with retinal vascular disease and are implicated in anti-VEGF treatment resistance


Vitreous IL-6 levels in patients with retinal vascular disease vs. control1

DME: diabetic macular edema; PDR: prolifera tive diabetic retinopathy; BRVO: branch retinal vein occlusion; CRVO: central retinal vein occlusion; RD: retinal detachment.

1. Yoshimura et al. (2009). PLoS ONE 4(12): e8158.

Aqueous humor IL-6 levels significantly correlate with anti-VEGF treatment response in wet AMD2

2. Adapted from Chalam et al. (2014). Journal of Ophthalmology, Article ID 502174. Mean with SEM plotted.

Increased levels of IL-6 are associated with poor functional outcomes in wet AMD and DME patients treated with anti-VEGF monotherapy. Studies show that higher levels of IL-6 in aqueous humor of wet AMD and DME patients are correlated with poorer best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) outcomes over time

In pre-clinical studies, dual inhibition of IL-6 and VEGF by KSI-501 show a synergistic effect


Dual inhibition of VEGF and IL-6 by KSI-501 confers superior normalization of complex tight junction-mediated barrier biology compared to either anti-VEGF or anti-IL-6 monotherapy alone demonstrating the synergistic effect of IL-6 and VEGF dual inhibition on retinal vascular disease.

With dual effect on the blood retinal barrier, KSI-501 holds the potential to be a new disease-modifying therapy.


Inner blood-retinal barrier: leakage from vascular endothelium disruption leads to macular edema and hemorrhage

Outer blood-retinal barrier: RPE integrity prevents choroidal vascularization from invading the retina

Phase 3 DAYBREAK Study of KSI-501 in Wet AMD is Actively Enrolling


KSI-501 is being investigated in the ongoing Phase 3 DAYBREAK study in wet AMD. The DAYBREAK study is designed to explore the efficacy potential of bispecific IL-6 and VEGF inhibition in fixed Q8W with individualized monthly dosing of KSI-501.



DAYBREAK Study
Wet Age-Related
Macular Degeneration

Study Design

Designed as a registrational study for both tarcocimab and KSI-501

Tarcocimab objective: assess 6-month durability potential with individualized Q4W-Q24W dosing

KSI-501 objective: explore efficacy potential of bispecific IL-6 and VEGF inhibition in fixed Q8W dosing with additional individualized monthly dosing

Uses enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation

Anticipated Timing

Actively Recruiting



In wet AMD, there is preclinical evidence that IL-6 is implicated in the development of choroidal neovascularization and clinical evidence demonstrating that IL-6 is associated with development and progression of AMD, resistance to anti-VEGF treatment in wet AMD, and reactivation of disease by promoting growth of new neovascular membranes.



DAYBREAK follows the encouraging results of the Phase 1 study of KSI-501 in DME, a disease known to have high levels of cytokine-mediated microvascular inflammation in addition to VEGF-mediated vascular permeability.



Phase 1
Diabetic Macular
Edema

16 patients

Multiple ascending dose design

Each patient received 3 montly doses (Day 1, Week 4 and Week 8) and was followed for 24 weeks total

Phase 1 meets study objectives

KSI-501 has three tiers of innovation

Two-target mechanism of action

Designed to address two key unmet needs: higher efficacy and higher durability by inhibiting the IL-6 inflammation pathway and the dominant VEGF pathway

Enhanced formulation

Enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation is designed to deliver both strong immediacy and high durability

Science of durability

Supported by our science of durability

KSI-101
Anti-IL-6, VEGF trap

First-in-class

An investigational, high-strength bispecific protein to treat macular edema secondary to inflammation for which no approved intravitreal biologic therapies exist today


In patients with intraocular inflammation, significant vision loss is most commonly a consequence of macular edema. Studies show that inflammation and vascular permeability have a synergistic effect on driving disease progression and vision loss due to macular edema, but there are no approved therapies that target both drivers of disease.

KSI-101 is a high-strength (100 mg/ml) bispecific protein designed to directly target both IL-6-mediated inflammation and edema, and VEGF-mediated vascular permeability. The anti-inflammatory effect of IL-6 inhibition is the primary effector, with the anti-permeability effect of VEGF inhibition having an additive and synergistic effect.

There are no intravitreal biologic therapies addressing the spectrum of inflammatory conditions of the retina. Our goal is for KSI-101 to be a first-in-class bispecific therapy that targets both underlying disease mechanisms concurrently to prevent vision loss in patients who have macular edema and inflammation

Patients with vision-threatening inflammatory disease have limited treatment options today


Macular edema is the leading cause of vision loss among uveitis patients, a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by intraocular inflammation. Many patients with macular edema have persistent disease activity despite treatment and are at risk for vision loss.

In macular edema associated with inflammation there is no standard treatment algorithm and patients are exposed to therapies with limited efficacy and undesirable side effects.

1L
(Mainstay of Treatment)

Local or systemic
corticosteroids
  • Approximately 30-40% of patients do not respond
  • Associated with undesirable ocular and systemic side effects, such as cataract progression and elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma

2L

Immunomodulators
  • Used as off-label, steroid-sparing therapies
  • Up to 50% of patients do not have their macular edema resolved
  • Approximately 35% of patients do not experience improvement in macular edema

2L or 3L

Biologic
(Adalimumab)
  • Adalimumab (anti-TNa) is currently the only FDA-approved non-steroid therapy for non-infectious uveitis
  • Used as a steroid-sparing therapy
  • Approximately 55% of patients experienced treatment failure over 85 weeks
  • Associated with serious systemic side effects

3L or 4L or adjunct

Anti-VEGF agents
  • Used for patients with persistent macular edema associated with inflammation that fail conventional therapies
  • However, the underlying inflammatory component of the pathophysiological process is not addressed by inhibiting VEGF alone

There is an unmet need for minimally invasive potent therapies with a better safety profile. With bispecific IL-6 and VEGF inhibition, which confer a synergistic anti-inflammatory and anti-permeability effect, along with the proven safety profile of an intravitreal biologic, KSI-101 can become the first-line therapy for all retinal diseases with an inflammatory component

Studies show that both IL-6 and VEGF play a key role in retinal inflammatory disease


IL-6 levels are elevated in ocular compartments and in serum in patients with non-infectious uveitis, and further elevated in uveitis patients who have macular edema.

Aqueous humor IL-6 levels were elevated in patients with intermediate uveitis1

IL-6 levels are elevated in vitreous fluid of patients with active uveitis2

1. Valentincic et al. Molecular Vision 2011; 17: 2003-2010
2. de Boer et al. Curr Eye Res. 1992;11 Suppl:181-186

In addition, persistent inflammation triggers VEGF upregulation. VEGF levels are found to be elevated in aqueous humor of eyes with uveitis and uveitic macular edema, which can lead to angiogenesis, vascular leakage, and blood-retinal barrier dysfunction.

VEGF levels are elevated in aqueous humor of uveitis patients with macular edema vs without macular edema3

3. Fine et al. Am J Ophthal. 2001; 132: 794-796

CME:cystoid macular edema

KSI-101 is being developed to fill the unmet need for a potent, high strength, locally administered biologic in patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation for which no approved intravitreal biologic therapies exist today

KSI-101 focuses on a market opportunity outside the established anti-VEGF class


KSI-101 is being evaluated in the APEX Phase 1b Study and we plan to advance KSI-101 into dual Phase 2b/3 studies in patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation.​

Phase 1b

APEX Study
Diabetic Macular Edema
Macular Edema Secundary to Inflammation

Study Design

Objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of KSI-101 and to identify two dose levels to progress into pivotal studies

To evaluate 3 dose levels of KSI-101 in patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation

To evaluate 3 dose levels of KSI-101 in patients with diabetic macular edema

Anticipated Timing

Actively Recruiting

Phase 2b/3 (Dual Studies)

PEAK & PINNACLE Studies
Macular Edema Secundary to Inflammation

Study Design

Objective is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KSI-101 and to support registration in macular edema secondary to inflammation

PEAK and PINNACLE are expected to be identically designed studies

Anticipated Timing

Target enrollment start 1H 2025


An investigational anti-VEGF biologic designed
for strong immediacy and high durability


Tarcocimab is our most advanced program and one successful pivotal study away from a Biologic License Application (BLA) in 3 major retinal vascular diseases.

Tarcocimab is an anti-VEGF Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate (ABC) being developed to provide strong immediacy and high durability. Across multiple studies in high-prevalence retinal vascular diseases, tarcocimab demonstrated consistent 6-month predominant durability and favorable safety. With a flexible 1-month through 6-month label, we believe tarcocimab can be the “mainstay” intravitreal biologic for all patients.

  1. Across tarcocimab tedromer pivotal studies for diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and wet age-related macular degeneration.
  2. According to the product label for aflibercept, high-dose aflibercept, faricimab and ranibizumab.

The enhanced formulation is engineered for immediate and durable VEGF inhibition


The enhanced formulation of tarcocimab includes unconjugated and conjugated protein. The unconjugated protein is designed to deliver a strong “pulse” of VEGF inhibition and the conjugated protein is designed to persist in the eye to provide sustained disease control.

Tarcocimab is designed as a first-in-class anti-VEGF therapy that provides both strong immediacy and sustained durability

Tarcocimab and the Science of Durability

Tarcocimab is an ABC medicine built to last. This designed-in durability is supported by clinical data and is what we call our science of durability. See the data

Tarcocimab and the Science of Durability

Tarcocimab is an ABC medicine built to last. This designed-in durability is supported by clinical data and is what we call our science of durability. See the data

Our Phase 3 studies across high-prevalence retinal diseases


Three Phase 3 studies complete in three major retinal diseases. Primary endpoint met and compelling durability demonstrated.

Study Design Primary Endpoint Extended Durability
GLOW1 Study
Diabetic Retinopathy
  • 253 patients
  • Tarcocimab Q24W vs sham
  • Superiority study
See Results
BEACON Study
Retinal Vein Occlusion
  • 568 patients
  • Tarcocimab Q8W vs aflibercept Q4W
See Results
DAYLIGHT Study
Wet Age-Related
Macular Degeneration
  • 557 patients
  • Tarcocimab Q4W vs aflibercept Q8W
Not Applicable See Results

In addition to these studies, tarcocimab was also studied in the Phase 2b/3 DAZZLE study in wet AMD and in the Phase 3 GLEAM and GLIMMER studies in DME. These studies did not meet primary endpoint but did demonstrate strong 5 and 6-month durability in the majority of patients.

Two new Phase 3 studies in process using the enhanced formulation of tarcocimab.

Study Design Primary Endpoint Anticipated Timing
GLOW2 Study
Diabetic Retinopathy
  • 250 patients
  • Tarcocimab Q24W
  • Superiority study
  • Uses enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation
Enrollment complete See Results
DAYBREAK Study
Wet Age-Related
Macular Degeneration
  • Designed as a registrational study for both tarcocimab and tabirafusp
  • Tarcocimab objective: assess 6-month durability potential with individualized Q4W-Q24W dosing
  • Tabirafusp objective: explore efficacy potential of bispecific IL-6 and VEGF inhibition in fixed Q8W dosing with additional individualized monthly dosing
  • Uses enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation
Actively Recruiting See Results

Our objective is for tarcocimab to be a “mainstay” intravitreal biologic monotherapy that provides high efficacy and high durability for all patients

Results from our Phase 3 clinical studies


Tarcocimab demonstrated differentiated durability in the GLOW1 study in diabetic retinopathy and in the BEACON study in retinal vein occlusion.

GLOW1 Phase 3 study in diabetic retinopathy1

  • Patients treated with tarcocimab received only 4 injections in Year 1
  • Tarcocimab demonstrated superiority in ≥2-step and ≥3-step improvement in DRSS

Proportion of patients with ≥2-Step improvement in DRSS from Baseline to Week 48

Proportion of patients developing any sight-threatening complication from Baseline to Week 48

  • Tarcocimab reduced the risk of developing a pre-specified sight-threatening complication by ~90%

Any Sight-Threatening Complication

DME CST of ≥320 and a 5-letter decrease in BCVA from Day 1; or CST of ≥350
PDR NVD or NVE, or VH
ASNV ASNV or NVG

1. The Phase 3 GLOW1 study is a global, multi-center, randomized pivotal study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tarcocimab in patients with treatment-naïve, moderately severe to severe DR. All patients were randomized to receive either tarcocimab every six months after 3 initiating doses or to receive sham injections.

DRSS: diabetic retinopathy severity scale; DME; diabetic macular edema; PDR; proliferative diabetic retinopathy; ASNV: anterior segment neovascularization; CST; central subfield thickness; BCVA; best corrected visual acuity; NVD: neovascularization of the disc; NVE; neovascularization elsewhere; VH: vitreous hemorrhage; NVG; neovascular glaucoma.
Weighted percentages are based on weighted average of observed estimates across strata using CMH weights. p-values are based on the difference in response rates.

BEACON Phase 3 study in retinal vein occlusion2

  • Tarcocimab Q8W was non-inferior to aflibercept Q4W in all RVO patients at 6 months, thereby doubling the treatment interval
  • Approximately half of tarcocimab-treated patients were injection free in the second 6 months of the study
  • Despite fewer injections in tarcocimab-treated patients, vision outcomes at Year 1 favored tarcocimab-treated patients achieving an observed mean of 74.6 letters versus 74.3 letters for aflibercept-treated patients

Median number of injections through Week 48

Treatment distribution through Week 48

78% of tarcocimab patients received 5 or fewer doses over 1 year

93% of aflibercept patients received 6 or more doses over 1 year

Treatment burden distribution through 48 weeks had minimal overlap, favoring tarcocimab in both BRVO and All RVO patients

2. The Phase 3 BEACON study is a global, multi-center, randomized study designed to evaluate the durability, efficacy and safety of tarcocimab tedromer Q8W vs. aflibercept Q4W in patients with macular edema due to RVO.

First-in-class

An investigational anti-IL-6 and VEGF trap bispecific biologic designed for higher efficacy and higher durability


KSI-501 is a bispecific Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate (ABC) designed to address two key unmet needs in high-prevalence retinal vascular diseases – higher efficacy and higher durability – by targeting retinal inflammation and vascular permeability simultaneously.

Inflammation has been shown to play a significant role in high-prevalence retinal vascular diseases. However, no treatments exist that concurrently address vascular permeability and inflammation. KSI-501 is designed to inhibit VEGF and IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine and immune growth factor, combining two powerful mechanisms of action to address retinal vascular disease and the underlying inflammatory cascade.

KSI-501 is designed for highly efficient binding to both IL-6 and VEGF


The anti-permeability effect of VEGF inhibition is the primary effector, with the anti-inflammatory effect of IL-6 inhibition offering the potential for additional clinical benefits.

The enhanced formulation is engineered for immediate and durable bispecific inhibition


The enhanced formulation of KSI-501 includes unconjugated and conjugated protein. The unconjugated protein is designed to deliver a strong “pulse” and the conjugated protein is designed to persist in the eye to provide sustained disease control.

IL-6 levels are significantly elevated in eyes with retinal vascular disease and are implicated in anti-VEGF treatment resistance


Vitreous IL-6 levels in patients with retinal vascular disease vs. control1

DME: diabetic macular edema; PDR: proliferative diabetic retinopathy; BRVO: branch retinal vein occlusion; CRVO: central retinal vein occlusion; RD: retinal detachment.

1.Yoshimura et al. (2009). PLoS ONE 4(12): e8158.

Aqueous humor IL-6 levels significantly correlate with anti-VEGF treatment response in wet AMD2

Patients that respond to anti-VEGF

Anti-VEGF treatment resistant patients

  1. Adapted from Chalam et al. (2014). Journal of Ophthalmology, Article ID 502174. Mean with SEM plotted.

Increased levels of IL-6 are associated with poor functional outcomes in wet AMD and DME patients treated with anti-VEGF monotherapy. Studies show that higher levels of IL-6 in aqueous humor of wet AMD and DME patients are correlated with poorer best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) outcomes over time

In pre-clinical studies, dual inhibition of IL-6 and VEGF by KSI-501 show a synergistic effect


Dual inhibition of VEGF and IL-6 by KSI-501 confers superior normalization of complex tight junction-mediated barrier biology compared to either anti-VEGF or anti-IL-6 monotherapy alone demonstrating the synergistic effect of IL-6 and VEGF dual inhibition on retinal vascular disease.

With dual effect on the blood retinal barrier, KSI-501 holds the potential to be a new disease-modifying therapy.

Inner blood-retinal barrier: leakage from vascular endothelium disruption leads to macular edema and hemorrhage
Outer blood-retinal barrier: RPE integrity prevents choroidal vascularization from invading the retina

Phase 3 DAYBREAK study of KSI-501 in wet AMD is actively enrolling


KSI-501 is being investigated in the ongoing Phase 3 DAYBREAK study in wet AMD. The DAYBREAK study is designed to explore the efficacy potential of bispecific IL-6 and VEGF inhibition in fixed Q8W with individualized monthly dosing of KSI-501.

In wet AMD, there is preclinical evidence that IL-6 is implicated in the development of choroidal neovascularization and clinical evidence demonstrating that IL-6 is associated with development and progression of AMD, resistance to anti-VEGF treatment in wet AMD, and reactivation of disease by promoting growth of new neovascular membranes.

DAYBREAK follows the encouraging results of the Phase 1 study of KSI-501 in DME, a disease known to have high levels of cytokine-mediated microvascular inflammation in addition to VEGF-mediated vascular permeability.

Glow 2 Study Results

KSI-501 has three tiers of innovation

Two-target
mechanism of action

Designed to address two key unmet needs: higher efficacy and higher durability by inhibiting the IL-6 inflammation pathway and the dominant VEGF pathway

Enhanced
formulation

Enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation is designed to deliver both strong immediacy and high durability

Science of
durability

Supported by our science of durability

First-in-class

An investigational, high-strength bispecific protein to treat macular edema secondary to inflammation for which no approved intravitreal biologic therapies exist today


In patients with intraocular inflammation, significant vision loss is most commonly a consequence of macular edema. Studies show that inflammation and vascular permeability have a synergistic effect on driving disease progression and vision loss due to macular edema, but there are no approved therapies that target both drivers of disease.

KSI-101 is a high-strength (100 mg/ml) bispecific protein designed to directly target both IL-6-mediated inflammation and edema, and VEGF-mediated vascular permeability. The anti-inflammatory effect of IL-6 inhibition is the primary effector, with the anti-permeability effect of VEGF inhibition having an additive and synergistic effect.

Bottom Image
Top Image

There are no intravitreal biologic therapies addressing the spectrum of inflammatory conditions of the retina. Our goal is for KSI-101 to be a first-in-class bispecific therapy that targets both underlying disease mechanisms concurrently to prevent vision loss in patients who have macular edema and inflammation

Patients with vision-threatening inflammatory disease have limited treatment options today


Macular edema is the leading cause of vision loss among uveitis patients, a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by intraocular inflammation. Many patients with macular edema have persistent disease activity despite treatment and are at risk for vision loss.

In macular edema associated with inflammation there is no standard treatment algorithm and patients are exposed to therapies with limited efficacy and undesirable side effects.

[ksi_101_hover]

There is an unmet need for minimally invasive potent therapies with a better safety profile. With bispecific IL-6 and VEGF inhibition, which confer a synergistic anti-inflammatory and anti-permeability effect, along with the proven safety profile of an intravitreal biologic, KSI-101 can become the first-line therapy for all retinal diseases with an inflammatory component

Studies show that both IL-6 and VEGF play a key role in retinal inflammatory disease


IL-6 levels are elevated in ocular compartments and in serum in patients with non-infectious uveitis, and further elevated in uveitis patients who have macular edema.

Aqueous humor IL-6 levels were elevated in patients with intermediate uveitis1

IL-6 levels are elevated in vitreous fluid of patients with active uveitis2

1. Valentincic et al. Molecular Vision 2011; 17: 2003-2010
2. de Boer et al.  Curr Eye Res. 1992;11 Suppl:181-186

In addition, persistent inflammation triggers VEGF upregulation. VEGF levels are found to be elevated in aqueous humor of eyes with uveitis and uveitic macular edema, which can lead to angiogenesis, vascular leakage, and blood-retinal barrier dysfunction.

VEGF levels are elevated in aqueous humor of uveitis patients with macular edema vs without macular edema3

3. Fine et al. Am J Ophthal. 2001; 132: 794-796

CME:cystoid macular edema

KSI-101 is being developed to fill the unmet need for a potent, high strength, locally administered biologic in patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation for which no approved intravitreal biologic therapies exist today

KSI-101 focuses on a market opportunity outside the established anti-VEGF class


KSI-101 is being evaluated in the APEX Phase 1b Study and we plan to advance KSI-101 into dual Phase 2b/3 studies in patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation.​

Glow 2 Study Results
DAYBREAK Study Results

Multi-mechanism, multi-modality targeted biologic for complex retinal and systemic diseases


Triplet medicines combine the benefits of our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate (ABC) Platform for long-interval dosing of biologics with a new feature that adds sustained release of 100s of small molecules to target three or more mechanisms of action, enabling treatment of complex, multifactorial diseases.

Designing a new generation of targeted therapy for high-prevalence multifactorial diseases

Our triplet ABC medicines aim to broaden what’s possible with antibody conjugate therapies


Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) therapies are revolutionizing the way cancer is treated today by delivering highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells via a targeted antibody. With our ABC triplet medicines, we aim to build on this foundation in notable ways:

ADC

Image 1

  • Primarily developed to treat cancer today
  • Constrained by its Drug Antibody Ratio (DAR) of up to 8
  • Limited to using small molecules that are highly potent and cytotoxic with serious side effects
  • Antibody primarily serves as a targeting agent to deliver cytotoxic small molecules to cancer cells

ABC Triplet Medicine

Image 2

  • Designed for ophthalmic and also systemic diseases such as cancer
  • Designed to provide DARs of 50, 100 and up to 250 by embedding the biopolymer with small molecules
  • Enables the use of mechanistic small molecules rather than cytotoxins
  • Biopolymer can also be stably linked to a protein therapeutic (e.g., antibody)
  • Same durability benefit enabled by the ABC Platform
  • Antibody can be designed to target a cell or a biological pathway

Our goal with our triplet medicines is to deliver greater therapeutic benefit for multifactorial diseases in the eye and systemically by modulating multiple distinct pathological processes in parallel