Eyebiotech
Eyebiotech is a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotechnology company developing Wnt pathway-targeting antibody therapies for retinal diseases including diabetic macular edema and wet AMD, now operating as a subsidiary of Merck following its 2024 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Eyebiotech does
Eyebiotech Limited (EyeBio) is a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotechnology company founded in August 2021 by ophthalmology veterans David Guyer, M.D., and Anthony P. Adamis, M.D. The company develops therapies for retinal vascular diseases — primarily diabetic macular edema (DME, affecting ~750,000 people in the US) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD/wet AMD, affecting 1–2 million in the US) — serving patients at risk of vision loss and blindness from these conditions. Its core scientific approach targets the Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway to reduce vascular leakage and restore blood-retinal barrier integrity, a mechanism differentiated from the dominant anti-VEGF therapeutic class in this space.
The product pipeline is anchored by Restoret, an investigational antibody that completed enrollment in the Phase 1b/2a AMARONE trial with favorable safety results, and MK-8748, a bispecific antibody for wet AMD and DME that advanced into Phase 3 in collaboration with Merck and Ingenia Therapeutics. Both assets reflect a domain-specialized antibody platform rather than a broad discovery engine. EyeBio maintained a transatlantic operating footprint with UK headquarters in London and US operations in New York, employing 11–50 staff.
As a clinical-stage company, EyeBio generated no product revenue and operated on a pipeline-development-and-licensing model funded by venture capital — a $65M Series A led by SV Health Investors and Jeito Capital (Feb 2022), expanded to $130M total with Bain Capital Life Sciences, Omega Funds, and Vertex Ventures HC (Nov 2023). In 2024, Merck acquired EyeBio for approximately $3 billion, converting the company into a wholly-owned subsidiary operating under Merck's ophthalmology research division while retaining the EyeBio brand and founder leadership (Guyer as CEO/President; Adamis as CSO).
Eyebiotech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eyebiotech
- Legal name
- Eyebiotech Limited
- Website
- https://eyebiotech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Eyebiotech is a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotechnology company developing Wnt pathway-targeting antibody therapies for retinal diseases including diabetic macular edema and wet AMD, now operating as a subsidiary of Merck following its 2024 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eyebiotech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAL)
Keywords
Where Eyebiotech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Eyebiotech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Pipeline Development and Licensing: As a clinical-stage biotechnology company, EyeBio was focused on developing its retinal disease pipeline with the goal of achieving regulatory approvals and commercializing therapies. The company was acquired by Merck for $3 billion in 2024.
Eyebiotech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eyebiotech is a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotechnology company developing antibody-based therapeutics for retinal diseases, including diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Its pipeline is centered on Restoret, an investigational Wnt-pathway-targeting antibody administered intravitreally, alongside the partnered MK-8748 bispecific antibody program.
Product overview
Eyebiotech (EyeBiotech Limited) is a biotechnology company specializing in ophthalmology, developing a pipeline of therapies for retinal diseases including diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD). The company was founded in August 2021 by David Guyer, M.D., and Anthony P. Adamis, M.D., and operates as a subsidiary of Merck following its $3 billion acquisition in 2024. Eyebiotech's lead product candidate is Restoret, an investigational antibody undergoing Phase 1b/2a clinical trials, and the company is also partnered with Merck on the bispecific antibody MK-8748 which is advancing toward Phase 3 trials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Phase 1b/2a AMARONE trial of Restoret demonstrated favorable safety results
Companies that use Eyebiotech
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Eyebiotech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Eyebiotech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Merck & Co.flagshipEyeBio is now a subsidiary of Merck following its $3 billion acquisition in 2024. The acquisition allows Merck and EyeBio to work together as one team to advance the retinal disease pipeline. Co-founders David Guyer serves as CEO/President and Anthony Adamis serves as Chief Scientific Officer of EyeBio under Merck's ownership.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Eyebiotech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Iveric Bio: Iveric Bio was a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech focused on retinal diseases (geographic atrophy) and was acquired by Astellas for ~$5.9B in 2023. Its trajectory — late-stage ophthalmology asset triggering a large-pharma buyout — is the closest analogue to EyeBio's story.
- Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Apellis developed and launched Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) for geographic atrophy, a complement-mediated retinal disease. It is a directly comparable specialty ophthalmology biotech competing in adjacent retinal indications with novel-mechanism therapies.
- Kodiak Sciences: Kodiak Sciences is a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech developing antibody-based therapeutics for retinal diseases including wet AMD and DME. It overlaps directly with EyeBio's therapeutic area and mechanism class.
- Adverum Biotechnologies: Adverum is developing gene therapies for wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy. It targets the same retinal disease patient population as EyeBio with a different (gene therapy) modality, competing for clinical and commercial positioning.
- Ocular Therapeutix: Ocular Therapeutix is a specialty ophthalmology company developing therapeutics for retinal diseases and other eye conditions. It serves a similar clinical and commercial customer base as EyeBio in the ophthalmology space.
- Annexon, Inc. Annexon is developing complement inhibitors for retinal diseases including geographic atrophy, directly competing in the ophthalmology biotech space with novel-mechanism therapeutics for vision-threatening indications.
- Opthea Limited: Opthea is a clinical-stage ophthalmology company developing OPT-302 for wet AMD, a novel-mechanism therapy aimed at treatment-naïve and treatment-resistant retinal disease patients.
- Clearside Biomedical: Clearside Biomedical is a specialty ophthalmology company developing therapeutics delivered via suprachoroidal injection for retinal and choroidal diseases, including wet AMD, serving a similar patient population and specialty channel.
Broad incumbents
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Regeneron commercializes Eylea (aflibercept), the dominant anti-VEGF therapy for DME and wet AMD, and is developing next-generation ophthalmology assets including higher-dose Eylea. It is the standard-of-care incumbent that EyeBio's Restoret must clinically differentiate against.
- Roche / Genentech: Roche markets Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Vabysmo (faricimab) for DME and wet AMD, setting pricing and efficacy benchmarks in the anti-VEGF segment and competing directly for retinal disease market share.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Eyebiotech social profiles
Digital presenceEyebiotech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eyebiotech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Eyebiotech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eyebiotech M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eyebiotech
What does Eyebiotech do?
Eyebiotech is a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotechnology company developing antibody-based therapeutics for retinal diseases, including diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Its pipeline is centered on Restoret, an investigational Wnt-pathway-targeting antibody administered intravitreally, alongside the partnered MK-8748 bispecific antibody program.
Is Eyebiotech a public or private company?
Eyebiotech is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Eyebiotech founded?
Eyebiotech was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Eyebiotech based?
Eyebiotech is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Eyebiotech make money?
One revenue line is on record: pipeline Development and Licensing.
Who are Eyebiotech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Iveric Bio, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Kodiak Sciences, Adverum Biotechnologies, Ocular Therapeutix, Annexon, Inc., Opthea Limited and Clearside Biomedical. Broad incumbents are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Roche / Genentech.
Does Eyebiotech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eyebiotech.
What industry is Eyebiotech in?
Eyebiotech's product category is Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAK, Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAL, Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.