Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, shares what to expect at CTS 2025

Arshad Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, discussed the upcoming Clinical Trials Summit (CTS) 2025 meeting, which has become a key event in the ophthalmology and retina research calendar. This fifth-year anniversary meeting marks a notable expansion, with increased participation from clinicians, researchers, investors, venture capitalists, and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). The summit will showcase over 80 talks and multiple panels, focusing on cutting-edge developments in retinal disease research and treatment. Key areas of exploration include reducing treatment burden, advancing gene therapy, and addressing unmet medical needs in ophthalmology. Khanani highlighted several exciting research areas:

Treatment Burden Reduction

• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in phase 3
• Gene therapy programs
• Novel approaches to disease control

Geographic Atrophy Research

• Building on 2 existing FDA-approved treatments
• Focusing on improving functional outcomes
• Slowing disease progression

Inherited Retinal Diseases

• Developing treatments for conditions like retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease
• Addressing significant unmet medical needs

The meeting will feature unique components such as:

• An artificial intelligence panel
• Investor discussions
• Regulatory guidance panels
• First-time presentation of groundbreaking research data

Khanani emphasized the meeting's collaborative nature, stressing that meaningful discussions among stakeholders—including industry leaders, physicians, researchers, and investors—are crucial for advancing medical innovations. Particularly exciting aspects include the first-time results section and hallway discussions, which provide opportunities for in-depth exploration of new research and potential breakthrough treatments. The CTS 2025 represents a pivotal moment in ophthalmological research, bringing together diverse perspectives to potentially transform patient outcomes through innovative approaches to diagnosing, understanding, and treating retinal diseases. The event will be held in Las Vegas, marking a milestone celebration of the Clinical Trials Summit's continued growth and impact.