Israeli biotech organisation ImPact Biotech has entered a research partnership with Maastricht University in the Netherlands to develop a therapy for arresting the progression of pathologic myopia or myopic macular degeneration (MMD), a severe eye disease.

The organisation will work with two researchers from the university, associate professor Dr Mor Dickman and MERLN Institute associate professor Dr Vanessa LaPointe.

The parties will leverage the Padeliporfin vascular targeted photodynamic (VTP) therapy platform of ImPact for developing the treatment.

Padeliporfin has received the European Medicines Agency's approval for usage in low-risk prostate cancer patients.

It is currently being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial for treating low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

The organisation also plans to commence further studies of Padeliporfin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

ImPact Biotech Research and Development global head Dr David Perry stated: “We look forward to collaborating with Maastricht University’s Drs LaPointe and Dickman on this important research collaboration to address the huge unmet medical need in progressive myopia while leveraging our Padeliporfin VTP technology to help patients afflicted with this highly debilitating condition.

“Initial results with our Padeliporfin approach are very encouraging and we are looking forward to progressing it rapidly towards clinical research by growing our understanding of the disease and the potential interventions to change its course with the contribution of this collaboration.”

The organisation is also partnering with research institutes and specialists in associated areas to analyse its platform’s potential to treat pathological myopia.