The Science

Glaucoma, dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy share a common trait: progressive loss of vision that is irreversible once retina and retinal ganglion cells are lost. Glaucoma causes damage to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which comprise the optic nerve, resulting in loss of the vision signal to the brain. There are no FDA approved therapies that protect retinal ganglion cells or restore their function once lost.

Ephrin receptor signaling governs how cells move, connect, and survive.

In the optic nerve, ephrin signaling is essential for guiding the axons of retinal ganglion cells from the eye to the brain, establishing a functional “retinotopic map” that allows for clear and coordinated vision. Ephrin receptors (EphA and EphB) and their corresponding ephrin ligands are membrane-bound proteins that regulate:

  • Axonal guidance and synaptic plasticity

  • Stem cell behavior and tissue patterning

  • Vascular growth (angiogenesis) and endothelial cell integrity

But in disease, this signaling becomes dysregulated.

The Ephrin Receptor

The Ephrin receptor and corresponding ephrin ligands are membrane-bound proteins that regulate many basic cellular processes including axonal guidance, neural plasticity, angiogenesis, tissue patterning, cell proliferation, stem cell differentiation, and pathogenic processes such as cancer.

In glaucoma, Ephrin receptor /ephrin ligand signaling in retinal ganglion cells which comprise the optic nerve has been shown to be consistently upregulated, disrupting axonal guidance of the retinal ganglion cells to the vision centers of the brain.

This disruption triggers neurodegeneration and inflammation, leading to retinal ganglion cell death. As glaucoma progresses, a void where the optic nerve once resided (see photo) appears, indicating loss of connection between the retinal ganglion cells and the vision centers of the brain. Progressive loss of vision occurring in diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, is one of the major causes of poor quality of life and loss of productivity.

Our Solution

Targeted Ephrin Modulation

EIR-1003 is a first-in-class small molecule with neuroprotective activity that has shown positive results in animal models of glaucoma, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Designed to block pathogenic ephrin signaling, EIR-1003 antagonizes both EphA and EphB receptors to:

  • Prevent retinal ganglion cell death

  • Restore axonal integrity

  • Reduce inflammation and synaptic instability

EIR-1003 has been shown to increase regeneration of retinal ganglion cell axonal projections distal to the optic nerve head in animal models.

Research & Innovation

A Platform Built for Vision and Beyond

Ephrin receptor biology is not eye-specific. Ephrin receptor signaling pathways are active in:

  • CNS repair and neuroinflammation (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s diseases)

  • Cancer - tumor microenvironment and metastasis

  • Vascular patterning and endothelial function

  • Neovascularizaton and angiogenesis

We are developing a therapeutic platform targeting the Ephrin receptor based on a pipeline in a mechanism drug development strategy with applications across neurodegenerative disease, proliferative disease, neovascular disease and cancer.