Macuneos

Macuneos (BIO201) is an orally administered small molecule drug candidate developed by Biophytis for the treatment of retinal diseases, primarily dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) and Stargardt disease. Its mechanism of action involves selective activation of the non-canonical pathway of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and beta/delta (PPARα and PPARβ/δ), which are nuclear receptors. This activation leads to anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Macuneos is designed to protect the retina against phototoxic damage caused by A2E accumulation—a toxic by-product in the visual cycle—thereby slowing retinal degeneration and vision loss. The drug is currently in phase 1 clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration and preclinical development for Stargardt disease[1][2][3][5].