Applications

Allegro is initially focused on diseases that occur at the back of the eye. Allegro’s oligopeptide shows promise with a new mechanism of action for the prevention and management of ophthalmic disorders that are difficult to treat and currently have only one class of drugs (anti-VEGF antibodies) available to approach this very large problem. Our unique mechanism of action targets multiple angiogenic pathways simultaneously and at a much earlier stage of these pathways than current and upcoming anti-VEGF treatments offering new treatment options to physicians and patients alike. Our focus on the posterior segment is substantiated by the size of the ophthalmic market opportunity, the company’s scientific progress to date, and the team’s relevant experience and proven results.

The most prevalent ophthalmic diseases and disorders that can potentially be treated with Allegro’s compound include:

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) & Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

• 10.2 million people in the U.S. over age 40 have been diagnosed with diabetes, of which 4.1 million have some form of DR
• The prevalence of DME among US diabetics approaches 30% in adults who have had diabetes for 20 years or more

Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD)

• Approximately 15 million Americans are affected with AMD
• Projecting 30 million Americans will be affected by 2020
• 10% of AMD patients will develop Wet AMD

Vitreomacular Adhesion (VMA)

More than 250,000 Americans are affected with VMA

• VMA is divided into two patient categories: those with macular holes and those with VMT

The incidence of VMA is reported as high as 84% for patients with macular hole, 100% for patients with vitreomacular traction syndrome, and 56% in idiopathic epimacular membrane (Koerner F, Garweg J. [Diseases of the vitreo-macular interface]. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 1999;214(5):305-310.)

Symptoms for VMA most commonly include:

• Metamorphopsia
• Decreased Visual Acuity
• Central Visual Field Defect