Age-Related Macular Degeneration Fighting Company Receives Investment; OcuCure Therapeutics is Developing a Novel Therapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration, a Leading Cause of Blindness in the Developed World.

ROANOKE, Va. -- OcuCure Therapeutics is pleased to announce an investment by the Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI), an organization that makes early stage investments in breakthrough technology. Terms of the investment are undisclosed. Roanoke based OcuCure is developing new proprietary drugs and technologies to reduce and prevent vision loss caused by eye diseases. OcuCure's compounds have a novel mechanism of action and will introduce a new wave of differentiated drugs for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Research results have been very encouraging, and additional animal studies will be conducted at T.R. Lee Center for Ocular Pharmacology at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

"We believe that OcuCure possesses tremendous potential to alleviate AMD and hopefully prevent blindness in millions of people. CBI is pleased to fund a Roanoke based company that is dedicated to preventing millions of people from suffering through such a catastrophic visual outcome as the loss of eyesight," states Daniel Barchi, President of CBI.

AMD is a debilitating eye disease and is the leading cause of legal blindness in developed countries. In the US nearly 15 million people have been diagnosed with this condition and almost one in three people over the age of 75 have AMD.

Currently, there are limited options for the treatment of wet AMD. Many factors contribute to AMD by promoting the growth of new abnormal retinal blood vessels. This process is called angiogenesis. These new vessels are fragile and leak fluid and blood into the eye causing rapid vision loss. The key to success is inhibiting the sprouting of these new blood vessels and regressing, if possible, the partially grown new blood vessels. To achieve both is difficult. The current drugs are limited in their efficacy as they only work on a single pathway. OcuCure has a totally new mechanism of action with dual properties - both anti-angiogenic and angiolytic that affects multiple pathways. This novel drug inhibits new blood vessels from sprouting (anti-angiogenesis) and causes regression of partially grown blood vessels (angiolytic). Therefore, OcuCure provides a more complete therapy for AMD. Additionally, because the lead compound is a small molecule, it is well suited for development of a topical eye drop dosage. Current AMD drugs are injected directly into the eye.

"OcuCure provides the next generation therapy for AMD," states Sunder Malkani, OcuCure President and CEO. "Early pre-clinical results are very promising. We have assembled a world-class team with a proven track record of success. Investors are placing a premium on AMD companies, and I am very pleased with the support provided by CBI," Mr. Malkani goes on to further state.