REDWOOD CITY, Calif., August 18, 2026
Eyconis, Inc. announced the initiation of OVERTURE, its first-in-human Phase 1b/2a clinical trial evaluating EYC-0305 in treatment-naïve patients with neovascular, or wet, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The first patients have now been dosed, marking Eyconis’ transition into a clinical-stage biotechnology company and advancing its strategy to develop next-generation, long-acting ophthalmic therapies. EYC-0305 is an investigational anti-VEGF therapy designed to provide sustained activity in the retina following a standard intravitreal injection, with the company targeting treatment intervals of six months or longer. The program uses the TransCon® technology platform, licensed from Ascendis Pharma for ophthalmology, to pursue extended drug exposure while avoiding the need for a surgical implant or specialized delivery device. The development addresses an important challenge in wet AMD management: maintaining disease control while reducing the frequency of treatment visits and injections.
Eyconis Advances Long-Acting Wet AMD Therapy
The initiation of OVERTURE represents a major clinical development milestone for EYC-0305 and focuses on whether sustained anti-VEGF activity can be achieved without conventional frequent dosing. Wet AMD is a serious retinal disease associated with abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage, which can result in fluid accumulation, bleeding and progressive loss of central vision. Although anti-VEGF medicines have transformed treatment, the need for repeated injections and regular healthcare visits remains a significant burden for patients, caregivers and eye-care providers. EYC-0305 is being developed specifically to address this treatment burden by maintaining drug exposure in the retina for an extended period following a single intravitreal administration. Eyconis is targeting a potential dosing interval of 24 weeks or longer, which could substantially reduce the number of treatment visits if demonstrated in clinical development. However, the six-month or longer durability remains an investigational goal and will need to be established through clinical data from OVERTURE and subsequent studies.
OVERTURE Evaluates Safety, Durability and Disease Activity
OVERTURE is an open-label, multiple ascending dose Phase 1b/2a study designed primarily to evaluate the safety and tolerability of EYC-0305 across multiple dose levels in treatment-naïve patients with wet AMD. Participants are expected to receive EYC-0305 through standard intravitreal injection, with the study designed around dosing approximately every 24 weeks rather than traditional monthly loading regimens. In addition to safety and tolerability, investigators will assess pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, disease activity and vision-related measures to understand the therapy’s biological activity and potential duration. The findings are expected to guide subsequent clinical development and determine whether EYC-0305 can maintain disease control beyond six months. The company is also evaluating whether its long-acting approach can produce a predictable treatment profile from the initial injection. EYC-0305 remains investigational and has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority.
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Eyconis Builds Pipeline Around Long-Acting Ophthalmic Medicines
The OVERTURE trial establishes the clinical foundation for Eyconis’ broader ophthalmology strategy, which is focused on developing long-acting therapies for serious eye diseases where treatment frequency remains a major challenge. Through its worldwide ophthalmology license from Ascendis Pharma, Eyconis is applying the TransCon technology platform to develop sustained-release ophthalmic medicines. The company’s lead program, EYC-0305, is being evaluated initially in wet AMD but could potentially be applicable to additional retinal diseases, including diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Beyond its lead program, Eyconis is developing additional long-acting ophthalmic therapies aimed at conditions with significant unmet medical needs. The first patient dosing milestone therefore represents more than the beginning of a single clinical study: it marks the company’s transition toward clinical development of long-acting retinal therapies designed to reduce treatment burden while maintaining disease control. Future clinical results will determine whether EYC-0305 can deliver the durability and efficacy profile envisioned by Eyconis.
Source: Eyconis press relese
