Surrozen Inc. (NASDAQ:SRZN) skyrocketed on Thursday after the company submitted an Investigational New Drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to evaluate SZN-8141 for treating diabetic macular edema.
The biotechnology company aims to advance the investigational therapy into clinical trials to address vision-threatening ophthalmic conditions.
Novel Dual-Mechanism Therapy For Retinal Disease
CEO Craig Parker emphasized that SZN-8141 combines Wnt pathway activation and VEGF inhibition within a single molecule.
Parker noted that this dual approach addresses vascular leakage while supporting retinal vascular health, offering a distinct strategy for retinal vascular conditions.
Preclinical rodent studies showed that SZN-8141 reduced neovascularization and improved retinal revascularization more effectively than single-agent Wnt or anti-VEGF treatments.
The molecule also showed greater reductions in vascular leakage than anti-VEGF therapy in rodent models of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Clinical Trial Timeline And Expected Milestones
Surrozen plans to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and biological activity of SZN-8141 in a Phase 1b/2a trial, DUET.
The company expects to begin enrolling patients with diabetic macular edema by late 2026 and anticipates initial clinical results in the second half of 2027.
“We believe SZN-8141 has the potential to offer a differentiated approach to retinal vascular disease by combining two complementary mechanisms, activation of the Wnt pathway and inhibition of VEGF, in a single molecule,” Parker commented.
“By bringing together these mechanisms, SZN-8141 is designed to both address vascular leakage and promote retinal vascular integrity.
Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30 were $102.0 million.
SRZN Price Action: Surrozen shares were up 98.45% to $32.07 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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