Kalaris - TH103 for Retinal Disease Treatment
Kalaris Therapeutics is focused on developing innovative treatments for retinal diseases, aiming to reduce the burden of frequent clinical visits for patients with retinal neovascular and exudative conditions. Their lead product, TH103, is a fully humanized, recombinant fusion protein designed for intravitreal delivery as an anti-VEGF agent. TH103 functions as a soluble decoy receptor, demonstrating enhanced and prolonged anti-VEGF activity. With high affinity for VEGF and heparan sulfate proteoglycans, TH103 potentially increases intraocular retention, thereby minimizing injection frequency. Ongoing Phase 1 clinical trials for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) explore its effectiveness, with future applications planned for other retinal diseases. The scientific foundation of TH103 was laid by Dr. Napoleone Ferrara, a notable figure in anti-VEGF drug development. Kalaris is supported by experienced leaders in ophthalmology and veteran investors committed to advancing retinal therapeutics to regulatory approval.
Discovery of Kalaris’ lead product, TH103, was led by scientific co-founder Dr. Napoleone Ferrara, a Lasker Award-winning scientist known for isolating the genetic sequence for three human VEGF-A isoforms and one of the inventors of Avastin and Lucentis, two of the leading anti-VEGF drugs in cancer and neovascular eye diseases. TH103 is a fully humanized, recombinant fusion protein designed for intravitreal delivery, with potential to be a best-in-class anti-VEGF agent. TH103 acts against VEGF as a soluble decoy receptor and has been engineered for longer-lasting and increased anti-VEGF activity.
TH103 has a high affinity for both VEGF and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (“HSPG”), macromolecules that are present throughout the eye, including the vitreous and all retinal layers1. We believe HSPG macromolecules act as molecular anchors for TH103, potentially extending its intraocular retention and reducing the frequency of anti-VEGF injections.
TH103 has demonstrated longer-lasting and increased anti-VEGF activity in head-to-head preclinical studies against the market leading agent.2
TH103 is currently being evaluated in an ongoing, Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), with plans to develop this therapy for other neovascular and exudative diseases of the retina.