Participated · Equity · Jan 2013

Clearside Biomedical is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class drug therapies to treat blinding diseases of the eye using its proprietary SCS™ (suprachoroidal space) Microinjector to deliver drugs to the posterior segment. The company’s lead formulation, CLS-TA (triamcinolone acetonide), is being tested across three ongoing clinical trials. Clearside has initiated enrollment in the Phase 3 Peachtree trial for macular edema associated with non-infectious uveitis, and its Phase 2 Tanzanite trial is assessing CLS-TA used concomitantly with an intravitreal VEGF inhibitor for macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion. The Dogwood Phase 2 trial recently completed enrollment and evaluated CLS-TA in patients with macular edema associated with non-infectious uveitis. Clearside holds intellectual property protecting delivery of drugs through the SCS to reach the back of the eye. The company is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, and recently completed a $20 million Series C financing to support further clinical development of its pipeline. Clearside Biomedical is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class drug therapies to treat chronic, blinding diseases of the eye. Its product candidates target diseases affecting the retina and choroid, especially conditions associated with macular edema. Clearside administers drugs non-surgically into the suprachoroidal space using its proprietary microinjector and SCS drug administration approach. The company is advancing lead programs CLS-1001 and CLS-1003 toward Phase 2. Clearside completed a $16 million Series B financing to fund continued development of its SCS platform and these programs. The company is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. Clearside Biomedical is a clinical-stage ophthalmic pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes targeted therapeutics by delivering drugs through the suprachoroidal space using a proprietary microinjection dosage form to access the retina and choroid. Its microinjection platform is designed for in-office injections that avoid complicated surgical techniques and aims to improve delivery to retinal disease sites. Clearside's lead program, CLS1001 (triamcinolone acetonide) Suprachoroidal Injectable Suspension, has an FDA-allowed IND to pursue clinical testing for ocular inflammatory conditions and was scheduled to begin clinical testing in Q1 2013. The company plans to advance CLS1001 into pivotal testing and to expand its pipeline targeting ocular choroidal neovascularization and posterior-segment inflammatory diseases. To support these plans, Santen Ltd. and other investors committed to fund an additional $7.9 million and entered a research collaboration for posterior ocular disease development. Clearside is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, and emphasizes rapid translation of its delivery technology into clinical products. Clearside Biomedical develops a proprietary ocular microinjection platform to non‑surgically deliver drugs into the suprachoroidal space for posterior‑segment and retinal therapies. Its lead product candidate, CLS1001, is being developed for retinal applications including macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. The company launched to advance initial development and to support clinical testing of its lead therapy, with plans to begin U.S. clinical trials in less than 18 months. Clearside was founded and is led by ophthalmic veterans Daniel White (President & CEO) and Ben Yerxa, Ph.D. (VP, R&D). The company will operate from headquarters in Atlanta, GA and maintain substantial clinical and preclinical activity in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina. Its platform originated from multi‑year collaborations involving Mark Prausnitz (Georgia Tech) and Henry Edelhauser (Emory), both of whom hold equity in the company and whose arrangements were reviewed by their institutions.