Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the foremost cause of vision impairment in the industrialized world, and no effective treatments are available. The number of patients is expected to increase globally, from around 200 million in 2020 to nearly 300 million in 2040. The condition tremendously impacts reading, face recognition, and driving, causing a loss of independence and quality of life. AMD patients are categorized as wet (10-20%) or dry (80-90%). Treatments exist for wet AMD, but they only alleviate symptoms and delay progression. No treatment exists for dry AMD. Ultimately, both groups reach the same end stage: retinal degeneration leading to blindness, typically within 5-10 years of diagnosis. SupraVision B.V. aims to commercialize a regenerative therapy for AMD. We are developing an implant that replaces the damaged tissue and restores visual function. The implant is an advanced therapeutic medical product consisting of a retinal cell layer (RPE) on top of a biodegradable carrier membrane. Within the BiotechBooster level I project, we aim to make SupraVision B.V. investor-ready. Activities include (1) a feasibility study to scale up and work towards GMP compliance, (2) generating a detailed regulatory roadmap according to EMA compliance, and (3) creating a business plan and performing a market analysis.
