---
title: Retina Update
description: PEDF eye drops, Kalaris merger, and Surrozen funding—key updates in retinal disease research and treatments this month.
image: https://visionexecutives.com/hubfs/Retina%20Update.png
---

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# Retina Update

Apr 4, 2025, 9:03:55 AM

[Vision Executives](https://visionexecutives.com/blog/author/vision-executives)

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👁 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 👁

👀 𝐏𝐄𝐃𝐅-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have developed PEDF-based eye drops that show promise in slowing retinal degeneration in animal models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The drops contain peptide fragments of PEDF, which help preserve retinal structure and function. In animal trials, these peptides maintained photoreceptor cells and improved vision when combined with gene therapy. These findings suggest that PEDF-based drops could offer a non-invasive treatment for retinal diseases, pending further research and clinical trials.

👀 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐕𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

[Kalaris Therapeutics](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kalaris-therapeutics/) and [AlloVir](https://www.linkedin.com/company/allovir/) Inc. have completed their merger, now operating under the Kalaris Therapeutics name. The new company, led by <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAB-nhLUBtt4sBJElActkC4A4oCYiRIvlS2k>[Andrew Oxtoby](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-oxtoby-531a31129/), will focus on developing treatments for retinal diseases, including its lead therapy, TH103, aimed at neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). With approximately $100 million in cash reserves, Kalaris plans to advance TH103 through a Phase 1 trial, with initial data expected in 2025. The merger strengthens Kalaris' position in the retinal disease treatment space.

👀 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 $175 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐡𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞

​[Surrozen](https://www.linkedin.com/company/surrozen/), Inc. (Nasdaq: SRZN), a company specializing in Wnt pathway therapeutics for tissue repair and regeneration, has secured a $175 million private placement, overshooting initial funding targets. The financing comprises $17.5 million upfront, with an additional $175 million available through warrant exercises. These funds are allocated to advance multiple ophthalmology programs, including Phase 1 studies for retinopathies such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Consequently, Surrozen will discontinue its SZN-043 program for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.

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