As Leonardo da Vinci noted, our senses are the ministers of the soul—none more vital to daily connection than vision. While common conditions like myopia (1.4 billion people) and cataracts (100 million people) are routinely treated with lenses or surgery, retina-damaging diseases remain a major global challenge.
At a recent Mosman Rotary meeting, club member Peter Abrahamson presented a groundbreaking look at Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). While “wet” AMD has existing therapies, “dry” AMD—specifically Geographic Atrophy (GA)—affects nearly 170 million people worldwide and historically lacks effective treatment options.
Major Eye-Related Conditions
| Condition | Symptom | Global Incidence | Consequence | Treatment |
| Myopia | Short sightedness | 1.4 billion | Unable to drive, go to movies etc | Spectacles/contact lenses |
| Dry eye | Lacking tear film | 900 million | Discomfort | Lubricants |
| Cataracts | Clouded lens | 100 million | Blindness | Lens replacement |
| Glaucoma | Raised intraocular pressure: | 80 million | Blindness | Drops |
| Age-related macular degeneration: WET | New blood vessel formation on the retina | 20 million | Blindness | Monthly Intravitreal injections |
| Age-related macular degeneration: DRY | Lesion formation on the retina (Geographic Atrophy) | 170 million 9 million with GA (20 million by 2040) | Blindness | ? |
Overview comparing global incidence, symptoms, and existing treatments for major eye conditions
Addressing this massive unmet need requires navigating a complex 10 to 15-year drug development pipeline. Led by distinguished researchers Professor Jan Provis and Professor Philip Penfold, scientific efforts have focused on ALVIZON™ (fludrocortisone acetate). FCA is a synthetic steroid with potent anti-inflammatory properties designed to slow disease progression without causing typical ocular steroid side effects, such as elevated intraocular pressure.
The 10–15 year journey of pharmaceutical drug development from discovery to post-market
Starting with benchtop research in 2018, the project progressed to animal models and published safety studies in BMJ Open Ophthalmology in 2022. Human trials confirmed that intravitreal FCA is safe, well-tolerated, and doesn’t increase eye pressure or cataract risk. Crucially for patients, ALVIZON™ is designed for administration only once every three months, significantly reducing the treatment burden compared to monthly options.
ALVIZON™: The journey so far
Key project milestones from initial 2018 concepts to 2026 efficacy studies
With global patents secured across the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia, the program is at a crucial juncture. Having confirmed safety and early efficacy, the team is working to secure A$10 million for a 120-patient, 12-month study. The ultimate goal is out-licensing to a global pharmaceutical partner for a full-scale 700-patient trial, targeting a global launch around 2033 to bring life-changing vision restoration to millions.