Money will finance 1,900-patient, 200-site Phase III trial for wet AMD drug Fovista, expected to work in concert with anti-VEGF therapies such as Lucentis to restore eye function. The transaction is just the latest ophthalmology financing involving Novo AS, SV Life Sciences and executives once with Eyetech.

VCs address the need for new capital at the U.K’s BioTrinity partnering and investor meeting; France and Germany move to work together on translational drug research; and France’s suspension of Bayer’s Diane 35 shows its tougher regulatory line.

Start-Up's monthly comprehensive review of emerging life science companies that have received venture funding during the month, including companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and research instrumentation and reagent sectors.

Unmet medical need and market size continue to drive venture investors to ophthalmic drug plays focused on diseases that blind.