Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. unveiled a new corporate identity as a retina-focused biopharmaceutical company this week, according to a press release. The rebranding comes as the company advances its lead investigational asset, Axpaxli (OTX-TKI), into late-stage development for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Wet AMD affects 1.8 million people in the United States and remains a leading cause of vision loss. Ocular Therapeutix aims to address the high treatment burden associated with current anti-VEGF therapies, which can require up to 12 intravitreal injections per year. Up to 25% of treated patients develop fibrosis within 2 years and atrophy within 5 years, which adds to the treatment burden.

Axpaxli is an axitinib hydrogel formulated for intravitreal injection using the company’s proprietary Elutyx bioresorbable hydrogel platform. The therapy is currently undergoing evaluation in phase 3 clinical trials. Preclinical and early clinical data suggest the potential for extended treatment durability, which may help alleviate the injection frequency burden and improve long-term visual outcomes.

The Elutyx platform also supports other programs in the company’s pipeline:

• Dextenza, an FDA-approved corticosteroid hydrogel for postoperative inflammation and allergic conjunctivitis.
• OTX-TIC, a travoprost-based intracameral hydrogel currently in phase 2 trials for open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The rebrand prioritizes visual accessibility and will debut publicly at the upcoming American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) meeting.