At a Glance Collectively, companies and research institutions have invested millions trying to develop intravitreally administered, extended-release anti-VEGF agents for the treatment of retinal neovascular disease that can act for as long as 6 months

GSK, in collaboration with OctoPlus N.V., developed a novel potent anti-VEGF molecule and hydrogel microparticle combination that almost fitted the bill – and was close to a clinical trial. Had it worked, it would have been a paradigm changer.

One of the issues that led to the project’s termination was caused by fundamental and poorly understood aspects of primate accommodation, which led to microparticle migration into the anterior chamber

The issues highlighted in this research are relevant for others pursuing the use of particulate injectables for intravitreal ocular delivery, some of whom are not easily able to afford the key experiments in the primate eye needed to de-risk likely similar issues in man

Late on in my career at GSK, my colleagues and I published a paper (1). It could have been groundbreaking. In some ways it was. We were seeking a better way to treat wet AMD – one that would obviate much of the burden of monthly clinic visits for intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF therapy that we see today. Despite solving many problems along the way, ultimately, the project failed – but we should all learn from its failure. Let me tell you my story.