Aviceda Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel therapies for retinal diseases, today announced topline results from its Phase 2b SIGLEC clinical trial evaluating AVD-104 in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The data support the potential of AVD-104 to slow disease progression and provide meaningful functional vision benefits. The trial compared AVD-104 with avacincaptad pegol, an existing GA therapy.

In the monthly 1 mg AVD-104 treatment arm, GA lesion growth was approximately 31% lower than expected based on historical sham and natural history data over 12 months. While the primary endpoint did not achieve statistical significance versus the active comparator, participants receiving AVD-104 demonstrated sustained improvements in mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (+0.6 letters) over the study period, an outcome not previously observed in other GA trials. Additionally, a meaningful proportion of patients achieved categorical vision gains (≥5, ≥10, and ≥15 letters). Only 2% of treated patients converted to neovascular AMD, highlighting a low incidence of this known risk.

AVD-104 is a polysialic-acid-coated nanoparticle engineered to engage multiple sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (SIGLEC) receptors on retinal immune cells, including macrophages and microglia. By modulating pro-inflammatory signaling, AVD-104 aims to slow retinal degeneration. The therapy was well-tolerated, with no unexpected serious adverse events and a safety profile consistent with historical data.

“These results provide encouraging evidence that AVD-104 has the potential to not only slow GA progression but also preserve and improve vision in patients with AMD,” said a spokesperson. “We plan to share detailed data at scientific meetings in 2026 and advance AVD-104 into Phase 3 confirmatory studies, with trial designs informed by these outcomes and ongoing regulatory interactions.”