SAYHT THERAPEUTICS

We translate basic science that is motivated by clinical knowledge to the bedside.

Virtually all degenerative diseases including age-related macular degeneration, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, are associated with lipid dysregulation and chronic inflammation.

The Founders …..

Eric Ng.png — **Eric (Yin-Shan) Ng**

Make Eric Ng received his bachelor’s degree in Biology and his master’s degree in Biotechnology from Boston University and his PhD from Harvard Medical School where he illustrated the differential roles of the different vascular VEGF isoforms in vascular development and in diseases and contributed to the development of a therapeutic approach to target specific disease-associated VEGF isoform(s). At Eyetech Pharmaceutical, he contributed to the pre-clinical development of Macugen, a first of its kind FDA-approved VEGF165 isoform-specific RNA-based aptamer therapeutic for wet AMD. At Pervasis Therapeutics, he developed a quality control release assay for Vascugel, a cell-based therapeutic for vascular intimal hyperplasia, and contributed to the development of an injectable formulation of Vascugel. he returned to academia as a Lecturer/Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology to the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology in London, UK, where he directed and managed a collaborative research program for novel target identification and validation with an industrial partner GSK. He was recruited to the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and is continuing his research on neurovascular diseases of the eye including studying the mechanism of AMD pathogenesis, developing novel retinal neuroprotection approach for glaucoma, as well as developing novel therapeutics for both wet and dry AMD, and diabetic retinopathy. He has over 40 peer-reviewed publications.

**Patricia A. D’Amore**

Dr. D’Amore earned her PhD in Biology from Boston University, was a postdoctoral fellow in Biological Chemistry and Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins Medical School, then moved to Boston Children’s Hospital as Assistant Professor. She earned an MBA in Finance from Northeastern University in Boston. In 1998, she became Charles L. Schepens Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Scientist at Mass. Eye and Ear. She is the Associate Chief of Basic and Translational Research for Ophthalmology at Mass. Eye and Ear and the Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Research for the Department of Ophthalmology.
Dr. D’Amore is an international expert in vascular growth and development and has been at the forefront of angiogenesis research for over three decades. In collaboration with a group from Harvard Medical School and Mass. Eye and Ear.she contributed to the scientific foundation for anti-VEGF therapies for which she and her colleagues received the 2015 António Champalimaud Award. Her laboratory also developed a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, which is widely used for investigations of vascular development and preclinical studies of vascular-targeting agents.
Dr. D’Amore has published more than 165 peer-reviewed papers, 75 reviews, and edited or co-edited two books. She is the recipient of the Alcon Research Award, Cogan Award from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Rous-Whipple Award from the Society of Investigative Pathology, the Endre A. Balazs Award from the International Society for Eye Research, and the Protor Medal from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2018.

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Dry age-related macular degeneration represents a major unmet need in ophthalmology. Clinical observations, genetic studies and epidemiology all point to a role for lipid as a significant contributing factor.

Oxidized lipids cause injury and death to the retinal pigment epithelium, the site of initiation of dry AMD.

Images below show the destructive effect of oxidized LDL on human retinal pigment epithelium barrier function (transepithelial resistance).

We have developed a proprietary small molecule that protects retinal pigment epithelium from oxidized lipid-induced damage and death.

Oxidized LDL leads to the robust generation of reactive oxygen species, which are completely blocked by SAY-101.

SAY-101

PRECLINICAL STUDIES COMPLETED

•. in vitro studies using human retinal pigment epithelial cells

•. small animal in vivo testing

We are seeking partnerships with biotech and/or pharma to leverage our scientific research and drug development services.

Contact us at: sayhttherapeutics@gmail.com