The state of retina at ASRS 2025 with Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, and Kevin Quinn

The annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) was held in Long Beach, California from July 30 through August 2, 2025. At this event, researchers and experts in the retina field shared data and insights from ongoing clinical trials. Among these experts was Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, Director of Research at Retina Consultants of Texas and Chairman of Research at Retina Consultants of America (RCA).

Following the event, Wykoff shared what he found to be some of the meetings highlights, in collaboration with Kevin Quinn, Chief Operating Officer at RCA and President of RCA Research.

Note: The following responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Ophthalmology Times: What are the 2 to 3 main takeaways coming out of ASRS?

Wykoff: We continue to see momentum in the development and evaluation of therapies that could serve as more durable treatment options for patients with exudative retinal diseases. For example, there are multiple phase 3 trials underway evaluating gene therapies that express an anti-VEGF therapeutic protein and bioerodible intravitreal implants that deliver tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) over many months. The most recent trials to finish enrolling, in record time, were LUCIA and LUGANO, which are evaluating EYP-1901 for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

On the surgical side, experts provided valuable insights into managing complex cases, including the use of methotrexate for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), which it seems many physicians are using regularly for appropriate cases.

Another major focus was the management of geographic atrophy (GA). Many physicians were discussing the use of current generation anti-complement therapeutics and multiple papers investigated outcomes and safety with combination pegcetacoplan and anti-VEGF therapy with positive results. There were also multiple presentations about novel therapeutics in development for GA, including elamipretide and ANX-007 both in phase 3 trials, RENEW and ARCHER II respectively, that are fully enrolled with data anticipated in the second half of 2026.

Quinn: To Dr Wykoff’s point, the rapid pace of innovation in retinal care was on display at ASRS. Physicians across the RCA network participated in more than 20 sessions, leading presentations on clinical research, surgical techniques and novel therapeutic approaches — including the subretinal delivery of an investigational gene therapy for AMD, a therapeutic candidate targeting early Stargardt disease and innovative treatments, including novel drug combinations and a senolytic candidate, for diabetic macula edema.

Beyond the presentations, though, the discussions over the 4 days underscore the collective commitment among attendees to save vision through innovation and the collaboration required to bring breakthrough treatments to the patients who need them.

OT: What’s on the horizon in 2026 – including the latest developments in gene therapies?

Wykoff: There are multiple ongoing late-stage clinical trials evaluating gene therapies for neovascular AMD. ATMOSPHERE and ASCENT are two large ongoing pivotal trials evaluating RGX-314 given by subretinal injection during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for nAMD. The ARTEMIS and 4FRONT trials are ongoing pivotal trials evaluating the intravitreally delivered gene therapies Ixo-vec and 4D-150 respectively for nAMD. We have learned a tremendous amount about patient selection and optimal steroid prophylaxis in order to maximize outcomes with intravitreal gene therapies, and these ongoing pivotal trials will be instrumental to helping more clearly define the benefits and risks of these durable therapeutic options. Many patients in the routine clinical practice do not receive optimal anti-VEGF dosing, and these agents hold promise for maximizing visual gains and anatomic stability in the real world.

Related to translating clinical trials into clinical practice, shortly after ASRS, we were fortune in Houston to be able to perform the first surgical implantation of revakinagene taroretcel— outside of a clinical trial — involving an encapsulated cell therapy approved in 2025 by the FDA for patients with idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel).

OT: What are some of the novel approaches in early development?

Wykoff: There are many fascinating novel therapeutics being investigated that may improve outcomes for patients with exudative retinal diseases including agents that activate the WNT pathway through FZD4 signaling, others that inhibit IL-6 with or without concurrent VEGF inhibition, and others that target inhibition of Kallikrein biology. In particular, the norrin mimetic Restoret is in the BAROLO and BRUNELO phase 3 trials for DME, and the bispecific IL6 and VEGF inhibitor KSI-101 is in the PEAK and PINNACLE phase 3 trials for patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation (MESI). From a GA perspective, new targets being explored at earlier stages of development within important clinical trials include inhibiting Fas signaling, lipid metabolism, inhibition of the MAC complex, and systemic inhibition of C3 or C5.

OT: What are some strategies and challenges for practices to grow their research programs?

Wykoff: While it is possible to initiate and grow a successful research program within an existing clinical practice without guidance, this can be challenging to do in a vacuum without support. Mentorship from colleagues or institutions with experience in clinical trials can be quite useful for retina specialists trying to get involved. I would encourage interested physicians to reach out to friends and colleagues who are currently involved with research to learn best practices to try to avoid multiple potential mistakes early on. Additionally, structured program, such as the DRCR Retina Network can be quite useful for new investigators interested in getting involved with clinical research.

Quinn: Clinical trials are the pathways to the future of care. But as Dr. Wykoff stated, building a research program isn’t easy. It’s critical to have access to resources, infrastructure and best practices, including education on patient identification and enrollment and strategies to optimize operational efficiency and maintain the highest quality.

Through RCA Research, we provide local practice research staff with considerable training and development opportunities, including participating at RCA’s National Research Meeting and traveling to an RCA Research Center of Excellence. We continually invest in resources to build out research facilities, while delivering support through our centralized, standardized model — from helping eligible practices quickly onboard to the latest trials to centralizing key components, including budgeting, contracting, quality assurance, accounting and travel coordinating. Driven by our mission to save sight through innovation, our goal is to provide practices with the infrastructure and resources needed to expand their programs and provide patients with access to the latest research and clinical trials.

Relevant disclosures for Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, include: Consultant and Research in collaboration with: 4DMT, AbbVie, Adverum, Annexon, Apellis, EyeBiotech, EyePoint, Genentech, Kodiak, Merck, Neurotech, Ocular Therapeutix, ONL, Regeneron, RegenXBio, Stealth, Surrozen