Ocular Therapeutix’s Axpaxli Shows Promise in Wet AMD Treatment, Challenging Eylea

A new experimental eye drug, Axpaxli, developed by Ocular Therapeutix, has demonstrated superior vision maintenance compared to a lower dose of Regeneron’s established treatment, Eylea, in a late-stage clinical trial for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The findings, announced on February 17, 2026, position Axpaxli as a potential new option for patients battling this common cause of vision loss. [STAT News], [Reuters], [Investing.com]

Axpaxli’s Performance in the Phase 3 Trial

The Phase 3 study revealed that 74% of participants receiving a single eye injection of Axpaxli maintained their vision for nine months without needing further intervention. This rose to 66% at the one-year mark. In comparison, 56% of patients treated with a low dose of Eylea maintained their vision for nine months and 44% did so for a year. [STAT News]

How Axpaxli Works

Axpaxli (also known as OTX-TKI) is an investigational axitinib hydrogel delivered via intravitreal injection. It utilizes a sustained-release technology designed to improve long-term outcomes and reduce the frequency of injections needed to manage wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy. [Ocular Therapeutix Pipeline] The goal is to treat patients with only 1-2 injections per year, a significant reduction compared to the 6-12 injections currently required with some existing treatments. [Ocular Therapeutix Pipeline]

Wet AMD Treatment Landscape

Current wet AMD treatments typically require up to 12 injections per year, while existing standard treatments necessitate up to 6 injections annually. Axpaxli aims to redefine this paradigm by potentially reducing the injection frequency to just 1-2 per year. [Ocular Therapeutix Pipeline]

Potential Impact and Future Steps

Ocular Therapeutix intends to seek FDA approval based on the positive results of this Phase 3 trial. [STAT News] While the study demonstrated Axpaxli’s superiority, some investors have noted that the margin of difference was narrower than anticipated, potentially sparking debate about its commercial viability in a market with already effective therapies. [STAT News]

About Wet AMD

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, leaking fluid and causing damage to the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. [Reuters]