The Science
Retinal neurodegeneration is often silent, until it’s irreversible. In diseases like glaucoma and dry AMD, visual decline reflects a cascade of upstream cellular events:
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death due to axonal guidance dysfunction and inflammatory signaling
Lipofuscin accumulation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) leading to metabolic collapse
Pathologic angiogenesis driven by aberrant receptor activity and endothelial dysfunction
There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for dry AMD or neuroprotective therapies that prevent the loss of RGCs in glaucoma.
Our Target: Ephrin Receptor Signaling
The ephrin receptor family regulates axonal pathfinding, synaptic architecture, and blood vessel patterning in both development and disease. Dysregulation of Eph/ephrin signaling is implicated in:
RGC axonal collapse and synapse loss in glaucoma
Microvascular leakage and proliferation in diabetic retinopathy
Lipofuscin accumulation and RPE dysfunction in dry AMD and Stargardt disease
Our proprietary compounds are designed to modulate this signaling cascade with precision—preserving neuronal integrity and restoring cellular function in the retina and beyond.
Research & Innovation
A Platform Built for Vision and Beyond
While our lead indications are retinal diseases, ephrin receptor biology is not eye-specific. The same signaling pathways we target are active in:
CNS repair and neuroinflammation (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s)
Tumor microenvironment and metastasis (e.g., uveal melanoma)
Vascular patterning and endothelial function
By mastering the modulation of ephrin signaling, we aim to develop a broader therapeutic platform with applications across neurodegenerative and proliferative diseases.