Simon J. Clark
@prof-clark.bsky.social
Helmut Ecker Endowed Professor of AMD & Co-Founder - Complement Therapeutics. Interested in ocular immunology and health. A British Biochemist in Europe 🇬🇧 🇪🇺
#ExtracellularMatrix #complement #ophthalmology
https://tinyurl.com/Clark-lab
#ExtracellularMatrix #complement #ophthalmology
https://tinyurl.com/Clark-lab
Pinned
Simon J. Clark
@prof-clark.bsky.social
· Dec 26
Right. Let’s try this social media malarkey once more, shall we?
Could functional vision be the future of retinal gene-therapy approvals? Beacon’s VISTA win in XLRP puts patient-relevant vision outcomes centre stage. #GeneTherapy #Ophthalmology buff.ly/MODKvwq
Beacon lights path to FDA approval with pivotal trial win for rare vision loss gene therapy
Beacon Therapeutics has found the light in a rare vision loss disease that has left larger companies in the dark. | Beacon Therapeutics has found the light in a rare vision loss disease that has left…
buff.ly
September 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Could functional vision be the future of retinal gene-therapy approvals? Beacon’s VISTA win in XLRP puts patient-relevant vision outcomes centre stage. #GeneTherapy #Ophthalmology buff.ly/MODKvwq
Factor H deficiency reveals a potential complement–EV–macrophage axis in kidney inflammation, opening new questions about how complement dysregulation drives tissue injury. #Complement #Immunology buff.ly/3Nyo2Td
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42704017/?utm_source=Chrome&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&utm_content=1T1hTO9Bp3LZOpZEfI_H0K5TGQvWKVgcHJxmmxmHK91DcB8EgR&fc=20210408094254&ff=20260907114349&v=2.20.1
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 16, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Factor H deficiency reveals a potential complement–EV–macrophage axis in kidney inflammation, opening new questions about how complement dysregulation drives tissue injury. #Complement #Immunology buff.ly/3Nyo2Td
Come! Join us. 🎓️
PhD positions available as part of the Doctoral Network 'PANDORA' on discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD. Deadline 15th Oct.
Follow the link for details - buff.ly/sYJ4JCN
#PhD #research #AMD #complement #ophthalmology
PhD positions available as part of the Doctoral Network 'PANDORA' on discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD. Deadline 15th Oct.
Follow the link for details - buff.ly/sYJ4JCN
#PhD #research #AMD #complement #ophthalmology
Job Opportunities
The candidates will be part of the MSCA Doctoral Network PANDORA on discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration).
buff.ly
September 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Come! Join us. 🎓️
PhD positions available as part of the Doctoral Network 'PANDORA' on discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD. Deadline 15th Oct.
Follow the link for details - buff.ly/sYJ4JCN
#PhD #research #AMD #complement #ophthalmology
PhD positions available as part of the Doctoral Network 'PANDORA' on discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD. Deadline 15th Oct.
Follow the link for details - buff.ly/sYJ4JCN
#PhD #research #AMD #complement #ophthalmology
GOLDEN shows that systemic factor B suppression can engage complement without slowing GA progression—an important lesson for complement-targeted AMD therapy. #AMD #Complement #Retina #DrugDevelopment buff.ly/zGZEnsf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42718940/?utm_source=Chrome&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&utm_content=12GmDGiSiGA9an3uAk7xg5WeD6SUYkvXu9hh-tydPALMY8vQtD&fc=20241229120800&ff=20260910120247&v=2.20.1
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 11, 2026 at 8:30 AM
GOLDEN shows that systemic factor B suppression can engage complement without slowing GA progression—an important lesson for complement-targeted AMD therapy. #AMD #Complement #Retina #DrugDevelopment buff.ly/zGZEnsf
AI may transform AMD drug discovery, but algorithms generate hypotheses, not biological proof. Validation, generalisability and mechanism remain the real tests. #AI #AMD #DrugDiscovery buff.ly/9wRiLTr
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42676384/?utm_source=Chrome&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&utm_content=12GmDGiSiGA9an3uAk7xg5WeD6SUYkvXu9hh-tydPALMY8vQtD&fc=20241229120800&ff=20260901115139&v=2.20.1
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
AI may transform AMD drug discovery, but algorithms generate hypotheses, not biological proof. Validation, generalisability and mechanism remain the real tests. #AI #AMD #DrugDiscovery buff.ly/9wRiLTr
ADARx’s planned IPO could signal growing confidence in complement therapeutic, with a CFB-targeting siRNA advancing into AMD geographic atrophy. Could durable complement suppression be the next step for AMD? #AMD #Complement #siRNA #GeneSilencing buff.ly/K4O3O33
AbbVie-backed ADARx plans IPO to bankroll array of clinical-stage siRNA therapies
ADARx Pharmaceuticals has reinvigorated its ambitions to go public as the AbbVie-backed biotech looks to fund ongoing clinical trials of a range of next-gen small interfering RNA (siRNA) medicines. |…
www.fiercebiotech.com
September 7, 2026 at 9:00 AM
ADARx’s planned IPO could signal growing confidence in complement therapeutic, with a CFB-targeting siRNA advancing into AMD geographic atrophy. Could durable complement suppression be the next step for AMD? #AMD #Complement #siRNA #GeneSilencing buff.ly/K4O3O33
Is the RPE the wrong place to look for pyroptosis in AMD? New single-cell data instead point to a distinct macrophage state, with NLRP3 and STAT3 emerging as potential regulators of inflammatory remodelling. #AMD #Retina #Ophthalmology #Pyroptosis buff.ly/sLa0yGL
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42537985/?utm_source=Chrome&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&utm_content=12GmDGiSiGA9an3uAk7xg5WeD6SUYkvXu9hh-tydPALMY8vQtD&fc=20241229120800&ff=20260801015216&v=2.20.0.post5+40e1b98
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 4, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Is the RPE the wrong place to look for pyroptosis in AMD? New single-cell data instead point to a distinct macrophage state, with NLRP3 and STAT3 emerging as potential regulators of inflammatory remodelling. #AMD #Retina #Ophthalmology #Pyroptosis buff.ly/sLa0yGL
Could chronic choriocapillaris hypoperfusion be a unifying driver of AMD? A new review challenges how we connect vascular, genetic & complement risk. #AMD #Retina buff.ly/WGXrWNS
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42556705/?utm_source=Chrome&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&utm_content=12GmDGiSiGA9an3uAk7xg5WeD6SUYkvXu9hh-tydPALMY8vQtD&fc=20241229120800&ff=20260806120114&v=2.20.1
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Could chronic choriocapillaris hypoperfusion be a unifying driver of AMD? A new review challenges how we connect vascular, genetic & complement risk. #AMD #Retina buff.ly/WGXrWNS
Could AMD leave a molecular fingerprint in the blood? New EV profiling reveals systemic signatures of complement, oxidative stress & lipid dysregulation. #AMD #Biomarkers #Complement buff.ly/1n5qVWa
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42668898/?utm_source=Chrome&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&utm_content=12GmDGiSiGA9an3uAk7xg5WeD6SUYkvXu9hh-tydPALMY8vQtD&fc=20241229120800&ff=20260830054704&v=2.20.1
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
August 31, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Could AMD leave a molecular fingerprint in the blood? New EV profiling reveals systemic signatures of complement, oxidative stress & lipid dysregulation. #AMD #Biomarkers #Complement buff.ly/1n5qVWa
Factor D inhibition failed to slow GA in Phase 2 OnwarD, raising a key question for AMD: target, timing, tissue penetration, or degree of complement inhibition? #AMD #Complement buff.ly/8LUsGO5
Danicopan for Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Results From the Phase 2 Randomized OnwarD Trial
To investigate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the oral complement factor D inhibitor danicopan for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular…
www.ophthalmologyscience.org
August 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Factor D inhibition failed to slow GA in Phase 2 OnwarD, raising a key question for AMD: target, timing, tissue penetration, or degree of complement inhibition? #AMD #Complement buff.ly/8LUsGO5
Could pharma mega-mergers ultimately boost biotech M&A? Integration risk may push Big Pharma toward targeted acquisitions of differentiated, clinical-stage assets. #Biotech #M&A #Pharma buff.ly/vZnxuZj
Editor’s Corner: Why an AstraZeneca-Bristol Myers Squibb merger is a bad idea
It’s been years since Big Pharma last witnessed a megamerger. In the late 2010s, Takeda bought Shire, AbbVie acquired Allergan, and Bristol Myers Squibb swallowed Celgene. | Combining the two…
www.fiercebiotech.com
August 3, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Could pharma mega-mergers ultimately boost biotech M&A? Integration risk may push Big Pharma toward targeted acquisitions of differentiated, clinical-stage assets. #Biotech #M&A #Pharma buff.ly/vZnxuZj
It's pretty cool to finally see a method capable of generating practical amounts of functional, full-length complement factor H. buff.ly/xwEz6YD
#ComplementTherapeutics #ComplementSystem #Immunology #InnateImmunity #DrugDevelopment #BiotechInnovation #TranslationalMedicine #PrecisionMedicine
#ComplementTherapeutics #ComplementSystem #Immunology #InnateImmunity #DrugDevelopment #BiotechInnovation #TranslationalMedicine #PrecisionMedicine
Moss-derived recombinant Factor H, CPV-104, effectively antagonizes alternative pathway C3/C5 convertases stabilization by NeFs from patients with primary C3 glomerulopathy - PubMed
CPV-104 effectively limits both stabilization and formation of AP C3 convertases in NeF-positive C3G, demonstrating superior functional activity compared with sd-FH. By restoring physiological AP…
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July 28, 2026 at 9:01 AM
It's pretty cool to finally see a method capable of generating practical amounts of functional, full-length complement factor H. buff.ly/xwEz6YD
#ComplementTherapeutics #ComplementSystem #Immunology #InnateImmunity #DrugDevelopment #BiotechInnovation #TranslationalMedicine #PrecisionMedicine
#ComplementTherapeutics #ComplementSystem #Immunology #InnateImmunity #DrugDevelopment #BiotechInnovation #TranslationalMedicine #PrecisionMedicine
Jasper-Kira merger highlights the next wave of complement therapeutics: dual-pathway inhibition and next-gen immune modulation could reshape treatment of complement-driven diseases. buff.ly/vjXHLY3
#Complement #Biotech #Immunology
#Complement #Biotech #Immunology
Jasper finds new purpose in merger with Kira, while offloading Tavneos rival to Mirador
KIT-targeting antibody biotech Jasper Therapeutics is being renewed via a merger with Nasdaq-listed Kira Pharmaceuticals—but not all of Kira's pipeline is coming along for the ride. | Jasper…
buff.ly
July 27, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Jasper-Kira merger highlights the next wave of complement therapeutics: dual-pathway inhibition and next-gen immune modulation could reshape treatment of complement-driven diseases. buff.ly/vjXHLY3
#Complement #Biotech #Immunology
#Complement #Biotech #Immunology
New roadmap says the FDA aims within three to five years to make animal studies the exception, rather than the norm, in preclinical safety and toxicity testing. #DrugDevelopment #Biotech #RegulatoryScience #ClinicalTrials #FDA #NewApproachMethodologies
House passes bill directing FDA to update animal testing rules
The U.S. | The U.S. House of Representatives passed the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 this week, and lawmakers and animal welfare advocates are celebrating the bill as a step toward a new era in…
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July 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM
New roadmap says the FDA aims within three to five years to make animal studies the exception, rather than the norm, in preclinical safety and toxicity testing. #DrugDevelopment #Biotech #RegulatoryScience #ClinicalTrials #FDA #NewApproachMethodologies
Restoring lysosomal function prevents drusen-like deposits and RPE degeneration in inherited macular disease, revealing a promising therapeutic pathway with major implications for #AMD. #Retina #VisionResearch #Ophthalmology #CellBiology buff.ly/7Vqe4fF
Restoration of impaired lysosomal function mitigates drusen-like deposit formation and cell death in Malattia Leventinese - PubMed
Malattia Leventinese (MAL) is an inherited macular degeneration disorder characterized by retinal drusen formation in adolescence, leading to vision loss. A mutation in the fibulin-3 gene (EFEMP1)…
buff.ly
July 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Restoring lysosomal function prevents drusen-like deposits and RPE degeneration in inherited macular disease, revealing a promising therapeutic pathway with major implications for #AMD. #Retina #VisionResearch #Ophthalmology #CellBiology buff.ly/7Vqe4fF
J&J axes CD59 gene therapy for AMD after key phase 2b readout. buff.ly/tvD4LAE
I'm not confident there was enough discussion with experts from the complement field when this strategy was devised. #AskTheExperts
#AMD #complement #CD59 #therapy #phase2b #clinicaltrials
I'm not confident there was enough discussion with experts from the complement field when this strategy was devised. #AskTheExperts
#AMD #complement #CD59 #therapy #phase2b #clinicaltrials
J&J axes eye disease gene therapy after key phase 2b readout
Johnson & Johnson has stopped development of an eye disease gene therapy after reviewing data from one of its key readouts for 2026. | Johnson & Johnson has stopped development of an eye disease gene…
www.fiercebiotech.com
July 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM
J&J axes CD59 gene therapy for AMD after key phase 2b readout. buff.ly/tvD4LAE
I'm not confident there was enough discussion with experts from the complement field when this strategy was devised. #AskTheExperts
#AMD #complement #CD59 #therapy #phase2b #clinicaltrials
I'm not confident there was enough discussion with experts from the complement field when this strategy was devised. #AskTheExperts
#AMD #complement #CD59 #therapy #phase2b #clinicaltrials
FHR proteins continue to show their importance in the pathology of disease, now including ANCA-Associated Vasculitis buff.ly/rRmSQRW and colorectal cancer buff.ly/LdZBQtM as well as AMD buff.ly/yGIMdEv
#AMD #ANCA-AV #cancer #complement #therapy #FHR #FH
#AMD #ANCA-AV #cancer #complement #therapy #FHR #FH
Association of FHR5 With Disease Severity in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis - PubMed
Both plasma levels and glomerular deposition of FHR5 were elevated in patients with AAV and associated with more active disease and more severe renal damage. Glomerular FHR5 deposition was an…
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July 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM
FHR proteins continue to show their importance in the pathology of disease, now including ANCA-Associated Vasculitis buff.ly/rRmSQRW and colorectal cancer buff.ly/LdZBQtM as well as AMD buff.ly/yGIMdEv
#AMD #ANCA-AV #cancer #complement #therapy #FHR #FH
#AMD #ANCA-AV #cancer #complement #therapy #FHR #FH
Functional mitochondria slow retinal degeneration in a dry #AMD model, reducing oxidative stress, inflammation & complement activation—pointing to a new cell-free therapy. #Retina #VisionResearch buff.ly/sUnDNlm
Exogenous mitochondrial transplantation attenuates oxidative stress-driven retinal degeneration in a sodium iodate - induced mouse model - PubMed
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative retinal disease initiated by dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), in which age-related mitochondrial impairment, oxidative…
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July 9, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Functional mitochondria slow retinal degeneration in a dry #AMD model, reducing oxidative stress, inflammation & complement activation—pointing to a new cell-free therapy. #Retina #VisionResearch buff.ly/sUnDNlm
A novel ApoE⁻/⁻/Cfh⁻/⁻ mouse model captures key early AMD features, advancing research into disease mechanisms and preventive therapies. #AMD #Retina #VisionResearch #Immunology buff.ly/QBVqGSF
ApoE- and Cfh-deficient mice exhibit structural and molecular features of human early-intermediate retinal degeneration - PubMed
The ApoE<sup>-/-</sup>Cfh<sup>-/-</sup> mouse reproduces key molecular and structural features of early and intermediate retinal degeneration with statistically significant alterations. Although it…
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July 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM
A novel ApoE⁻/⁻/Cfh⁻/⁻ mouse model captures key early AMD features, advancing research into disease mechanisms and preventive therapies. #AMD #Retina #VisionResearch #Immunology buff.ly/QBVqGSF
New data show OCT-based ellipsoid zone biomarkers predict geographic atrophy progression and that avacincaptad pegol slows photoreceptor degradation. #Ophthalmology #Retina #AMD #OCT #MedTech #Research buff.ly/bIkoziQ
Avacincaptad Pegol Slows Progressive Ellipsoid Zone Degradation/Loss in Eyes With Geographic Atrophy - PubMed
Greater baseline total and partial EZ attenuation were associated with higher rates of GA lesion growth and progressive EZ loss over time, establishing these EZ measures as important predictors of…
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July 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM
New data show OCT-based ellipsoid zone biomarkers predict geographic atrophy progression and that avacincaptad pegol slows photoreceptor degradation. #Ophthalmology #Retina #AMD #OCT #MedTech #Research buff.ly/bIkoziQ
Great to see people addressing the Bruch's membrane barrier issue when delivering complement inhibitors for GA and AMD! New Ab fragment against C3 developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. #AMD #GA #complement #C3 #drugdevelopment #antibody #therapy buff.ly/SYX0HiR
Pharmacological Characterization of a Novel Complement C3 Inhibitor Antibody Fragment - PubMed
The antibody fragment is a potent and specific C3 inhibitor that displays dose-dependent inhibition of MAC formation across all three complement pathways and effectively crosses the BrM. In line with…
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June 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Great to see people addressing the Bruch's membrane barrier issue when delivering complement inhibitors for GA and AMD! New Ab fragment against C3 developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. #AMD #GA #complement #C3 #drugdevelopment #antibody #therapy buff.ly/SYX0HiR
Choriocapillaris flow disruption emerges as a key driver of AMD, linking microvascular dysfunction to retinal degeneration and disease progression. #AMD #Retina #Ophthalmology #Choriocapillaris #OCT #VisionScience #AI #MedTech #PrecisionMedicine buff.ly/zPX12ap
Choriocapillaris Flow Deficits Are Spatially Linked to Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Photoreceptor Integrity in Geographic Atrophy - PubMed
Using a novel multimodal pipeline combining structural SD-OCT, SS-OCT-A, and histology-informed choriocapillaris binarization, we demonstrate that CC flow deficits are spatially correlated with outer…
buff.ly
June 25, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Choriocapillaris flow disruption emerges as a key driver of AMD, linking microvascular dysfunction to retinal degeneration and disease progression. #AMD #Retina #Ophthalmology #Choriocapillaris #OCT #VisionScience #AI #MedTech #PrecisionMedicine buff.ly/zPX12ap
AI-driven OCT phenotyping in AMD reveals new retinal biomarkers for risk stratification, advancing precision ophthalmology and future clinical endpoints. #AMD #Ophthalmology #AI #Retina #MedTech #DigitalHealth #VisionScience buff.ly/OMiC2G1
OCT-based AI-assisted phenotyping of intermediate AMD in the prospective PINNACLE trial: PINNACLE Study Report 9 - PubMed
This work combines expert grader readings with AI-based image analyses, applied on the largest prospectively, densely OCT-imaged cohort of iAMD reported on so far. The results show feature…
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June 24, 2026 at 9:02 AM
AI-driven OCT phenotyping in AMD reveals new retinal biomarkers for risk stratification, advancing precision ophthalmology and future clinical endpoints. #AMD #Ophthalmology #AI #Retina #MedTech #DigitalHealth #VisionScience buff.ly/OMiC2G1
New insights into #GeographicAtrophy care: a study reveals how US retina specialists balance efficacy, safety & treatment burden in evolving #AMD management. #Retina #Ophthalmology #MedResearch buff.ly/8HCwo1G
US Retina Specialists' Preferences for Geographic Atrophy Treatment - PubMed
Across patient profiles, RS prioritized lesion growth rate reduction over risks; intravitreal injection frequency was the least important. However, RS were more risk-tolerant with patients with…
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June 23, 2026 at 9:01 AM
New insights into #GeographicAtrophy care: a study reveals how US retina specialists balance efficacy, safety & treatment burden in evolving #AMD management. #Retina #Ophthalmology #MedResearch buff.ly/8HCwo1G
Novel insight in #AMD research: a new spatially weighted model captures the true impact of #GeographicAtrophy beyond lesion size. A step toward smarter #Retina imaging. #Ophthalmology #MedTech #VisionScience buff.ly/pes2x9B
Development of a conceptual, HOV-inspired spatial weighting model for quantifying geographic atrophy severity - PubMed
The HOV-inspired severity score provides a spatially weighted framework for assessing GA progression and may complement conventional structural metrics by incorporating lesion location relative to…
buff.ly
June 22, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Novel insight in #AMD research: a new spatially weighted model captures the true impact of #GeographicAtrophy beyond lesion size. A step toward smarter #Retina imaging. #Ophthalmology #MedTech #VisionScience buff.ly/pes2x9B