Ikarovec
Ikarovec is a leader in ophthalmology innovation, developing sophisticated gene therapies to treat complex eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Their mission is to create advanced, long-term treatments that can preserve sight and improve quality of life for patients worldwide. They focus on bi-functional gene therapies that deliver multiple therapeutic proteins directly to the eye, aiming to reduce treatment burden and enhance efficacy.
Industries
Nr. of Employees
small (1-50)
Ikarovec
Office Innovation Centre Norwich Research park, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7GJ
Products
IKAR-001 (previously IKC159V)
A bicistronic gene therapy candidate designed for geographic atrophy that directs retinal cells to co-express two therapeutic proteins (reported as PEDF and a soluble complement cofactor) to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and retinal cell atrophy.
IKAR-002 (previously IKC151V)
A bicistronic gene therapy candidate for wet age-related macular degeneration that encodes an anti-VEGF protein and an anti-fibrotic protein (targeting CTGF) to reduce pathological neovascularisation and subretinal fibrosis.
Diabetic Macular Edema programme (undisclosed)
Preclinical discovery programme targeting diabetic macular edema; details of the vector design and targets are not disclosed on the public pipeline page.
IKAR-001 (previously IKC159V)
A bicistronic gene therapy candidate designed for geographic atrophy that directs retinal cells to co-express two therapeutic proteins (reported as PEDF and a soluble complement cofactor) to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and retinal cell atrophy.
IKAR-002 (previously IKC151V)
A bicistronic gene therapy candidate for wet age-related macular degeneration that encodes an anti-VEGF protein and an anti-fibrotic protein (targeting CTGF) to reduce pathological neovascularisation and subretinal fibrosis.
Diabetic Macular Edema programme (undisclosed)
Preclinical discovery programme targeting diabetic macular edema; details of the vector design and targets are not disclosed on the public pipeline page.
Expertise Areas
- Ocular gene therapy
- Preclinical development for retinal diseases
- In vivo disease modelling (rodent, transgenic)
- Protein engineering and co-expression strategies
Key Technologies
- Bicistronic gene expression vectors
- Linker peptide technology for protein processing
- Targeted ocular gene delivery
- Retinal cell transduction for sustained expression
News & Updates
Ikarovec presented preclinical data at major ophthalmic and gene therapy conferences, demonstrating the potential of their bicistronic gene therapies to generate multiple therapeutic proteins in the eye, protect retinal cells, and prevent damaging blood vessel growth and scarring. The lead candidate IKAR-001 is moving towards clinical trials for geographic atrophy, a severe form of AMD.
Thomas Ciulla, with over 25 years of leadership in ophthalmology and gene therapy, has been appointed as President and CEO of Ikarovec. He has a track record of FDA approvals and strategic leadership in biotech companies, and will drive the company's pipeline of bicistronic gene therapies into clinical development.
Ikarovec presented preclinical data at major ophthalmic and gene therapy conferences, demonstrating the potential of their bicistronic gene therapies to generate multiple therapeutic proteins in the eye, protect retinal cells, and prevent damaging blood vessel growth and scarring. The lead candidate IKAR-001 is moving towards clinical trials for geographic atrophy, a severe form of AMD.
Thomas Ciulla, with over 25 years of leadership in ophthalmology and gene therapy, has been appointed as President and CEO of Ikarovec. He has a track record of FDA approvals and strategic leadership in biotech companies, and will drive the company's pipeline of bicistronic gene therapies into clinical development.