ASCRS 2024: New Phase III study results and near-future plans for Neurotech and NT-501

At the 2024 ASCRS meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, the Ophthalmology Times Europe team caught up with Rich Small, CEO of Neurotech Pharmaceuticals. Here's what he had to share with us, including an exciting preview of upcoming developments for NT-501.

Editor's note: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Hi, I'm Rich Small, CEO of Neurotech Pharmaceuticals. We already have a very novel technology we call encapsulated cell therapy [ECT], which consists of genetically-modified cells that are designed to release therapeutic factors over a sustained period of time into the back of the eye. Our most advanced ECT product is called NT-501, which releases a neurotrophic factor, CNTF. And we've been studying CNTF for an orphan disease called macular telangiectasia, or MacTel.

We have completed our Phase III studies with very positive results, showing slowing down progression of disease over a 2-year period of time. Also at Neurotech, we've been putting our final touches on preparing to submit to the [US] FDA our biological license application. We are hopefully to submit it shortly. As well, we are creating and growing our infrastructure. So we recently have built out our commercial team. We've added to our clinical and medical affairs team. And we also are planning to manufacture our product for commercialisation, hopefully, once we get through approval. So all in all, a lot of exciting things going on in Neurotech. We're very excited and we will be keeping you updated as we make progress over the coming months. Thank you very much.