An investigational bispecific inhibitor of VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2 improved visual acuity and reduced retinal thickness in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in a phase 2a study, according to top-line results reported by NovaBridge Biosciences and its subsidiary Visara.

The therapy, VIS-101, produced mean gains of >10 letters on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) scale, and reduced central subfield thickness by approximately 100 µm to 150 µm after 3 loading doses. Investigators also reported that about two-thirds of patients required no retreatment at 4 months and about half remained retreatment-free at 6 months.

The randomized study enrolled 38 patients with nAMD in China, ages 50 to 80 years, including both treatment-naïve and previously treated eyes. Participants were randomized 2:1 to receive intravitreal VIS-101 at either 6 mg (n=25) or 3 mg (n=13) after loading doses at weeks 0, 4, and 8. The primary endpoint was safety and pharmacokinetics, with secondary measures including change in best-corrected visual acuity and central subfield thickness.

Based on these results, a phase 2b study is planned for later in 2026, followed by a global phase 3 program, the company said.

VIS-101, also known as ASKG712 and AM712, was originally developed by AskGene Pharma and later licensed to AffaMed Therapeutics. NovaBridge obtained development rights through its subsidiary Visara, which is advancing the therapy for retinal vascular diseases. In addition to neovascular AMD, VIS-101 is being investigated in a phase 1 study in China for diabetic macular edema and is also under study for retinal vein occlusion, according to Visara. RP