RevOpsis Therapeutics Secures $1.8M NEI SBIR Grant for Ophthalmic R&D

RevOpsis Therapeutics, a pioneering biopharmaceutical company based in San Carlos, California, has announced a significant development in its mission to advance ophthalmic therapies. On October 15, 2024, RevOpsis revealed that it has been awarded a substantial Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant, which exceeds $1.8 million, will support vital research and development activities for the company's leading drug candidate, RO-104.

The SBIR program, a competitive federal initiative, aims to assist small businesses in undertaking research and development with strong potential for significant impact and commercialization. This grant provides essential funding for RevOpsis, enabling the company to accelerate the development of innovative therapies for eye diseases without diluting its equity.

RevOpsis' CEO, Ram Bhandari, expressed gratitude for the grant, highlighting its importance in advancing the company's mission to transform the treatment of retinal vascular diseases. The funding will facilitate crucial preclinical studies for RO-104, which are necessary for the Investigational New Drug (IND) application. These studies will include multidose Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) toxicology tests in nonhuman primates (NHPs), paving the way for the first human clinical trials expected to commence in late 2025.

RO-104 is a groundbreaking, fully human modular trispecific biologic designed to target multiple pathways involved in the progression of retinal vascular diseases. This innovative approach aims to address unmet needs in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and retinal vein occlusions (RVO). Backed by significant preclinical evidence demonstrating its efficacy and safety, RO-104 represents a promising advancement in the treatment landscape for these conditions.

The development of RO-104 leverages RevOpsis' proprietary RevMod platform. This platform utilizes a modular 'plug-and-play' strategy to streamline the discovery and development of multispecific biologics. With a library of nearly 30 billion fully human antibody components, the RevMod platform enables rapid identification and assembly of multispecific drug candidates. This efficient design process aims to address significant therapeutic needs in various areas, including ophthalmology, oncology, and immune-mediated diseases.

RevOpsis Therapeutics, founded in 2018, is a privately held company focused on innovating in the field of ophthalmic therapies. Led by a team of experts in medicine, science, and business, the company is dedicated to using its RevMod platform to develop and commercialize advanced treatments for chronic diseases. The company's commitment to responsible patient care aims to usher in a new era of disease management and extended remission for patients.

This SBIR grant marks a milestone for RevOpsis, validating the potential of the RevMod platform and the innovative approach of RO-104. With the support of this funding, RevOpsis is well-positioned to advance its research and bring new hope to patients suffering from vision-threatening diseases.