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This year’s American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in San Francisco had significant data releases from pharmaceutical companies focused on the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with gene therapy.

It has been more than 10 years since the introduction of anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, and the number of patients approaching legal blindness has fallen significantly as a result. Our understanding of the best way to manage this disease state has changed drastically. We’ve moved from a mandated treatment approach to as-needed approaches and now to a treat-and-extend approach. Alongside this, our education of how fluid subtypes matter in neovascular AMD has also broadened.

SAN FRANCISCO — Ziv-aflibercept could be an effective and cost-reducing alternative to traditional anti-VEGF therapies in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to a speaker here.

This year’s American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting was one of the best ever with loads of new technologies entering eye care, including the first trifocal lens implant in the U.S., the Alcon PanOptix, the release of Cequa, an exciting new formulation of cyclosporine from Sun Pharma, and Beovu from Novartis, a novel anti-VEGF drug with a 12-week dosing schedule. But even more exciting than new FDA approvals are new ideas in the formative stages. No place has better showcases than the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit that takes place the Thursday before AAO Subspecialty Day. Here were some of my favorite presenting companies:

The first patient has been dosed in the third cohort of the OPTIC phase 1 clinical trial of ADVM-022, an intravitreal gene therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, according to a press release from Adverum Biotechnologies.

SAN FRANCISCO — In topline results of a phase 1/2 trial of PAN-90806 presented at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, PanOptica cited finding a biological response for the once-daily anti-VEGF topical eye drop formulation.

SAN FRANCISCO — Faricimab demonstrated sustained inhibition of both angiopoietin-2 and VEGF-A in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to a presentation at Retina Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

SAN FRANCISCO — The phase 1b study of KSI-301, a novel anti-VEGF antibody polymer, improved best corrected visual acuity, and showed strong efficacy and safety for patients with either wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema/diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion, according to a speaker here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration in the OPTIC trial treated with one in-office injection of ADVM-022, a gene therapy specifically designed for long-term intraocular VEGF suppression, maintained best corrected visual acuity and experienced improved central subfield thickness from baseline through 24 weeks’ follow-up, according to a speaker here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema who received viscous topical anesthetics before anti-VEGF injections were at increased risk for development of endophthalmitis, according to a speaker.