OcuTerra Therapeutics

What OcuTerra Therapeutics does

OcuTerra Therapeutics is a Boston-based, privately held biotechnology company developing OTT166, an investigational topical drug candidate for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Founded in 2011, the company is focused on a single clinical asset that is being positioned as a non-invasive, at-home alternative to the current standard of care, which relies on intravitreal injections and laser therapy administered in specialist clinics. OTT166 entered Phase 2 clinical development, with the Phase 2 trial expected to begin in early 2022.

The company's differentiation centers on route of administration: by delivering a topical eye-drop therapy, OcuTerra is attempting to shift the diabetic retinopathy treatment paradigm toward self-administration at home, reducing patient burden, clinic visit frequency, and the need for invasive procedures. The development model is single-asset and clinical-stage, with a lean operating team of 1–10 employees and senior leadership including a CEO, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and a Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs.

As a pre-revenue biotech, OcuTerra's business model is contingent on regulatory approval and future commercialization. The expected monetization pathway identified in the data is one-time licensing, suggesting the company anticipates partnering or out-licensing OTT166 rather than building its own commercial sales force. Capitalization to date has been primarily through venture financing, anchored by a $35 million Series B round closed in November 2021. The data discloses no parent company, no subsidiaries, no commercial customers, and no disclosed geographic markets served beyond the United States.

Name

OcuTerra Therapeutics

Legal name

OcuTerra Therapeutics

Website

https://ocuterratx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OcuTerra Therapeutics is a Boston-based, privately held clinical-stage biotech developing OTT166, a topical eye-drop drug candidate for diabetic retinopathy intended to replace invasive injections and laser treatment with at-home self-administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocular Drug Delivery Devices (Eye Droppers/Inserts) (HLAHAIAL), Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)

Keywords

• Ophthalmic drug development
• Retinal therapeutics
• Topical drug delivery
• Diabetic retinopathy treatment
• Biopharmaceutical research

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Development Revenue: Pre-revenue biotech company developing OTT166 for diabetic retinopathy. Revenue expected upon regulatory approval and commercialization.

Core offering

OcuTerra Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing OTT166, an investigational topical (eye drop) drug candidate for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The product is designed as a non-invasive therapy that can be self-administered at home, with the goal of delaying or eliminating the need for invasive intravitreal eye injections or laser treatments. The asset is being advanced through Phase 2 clinical trials supported by a $35 million Series B financing closed in November 2021.

Product overview

OcuTerra Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing OTT166, a topical drug candidate for diabetic retinopathy. The company is advancing this single investigational drug through Phase 2 clinical trials with the goal of providing a non-invasive, at-home treatment option that could shift the treatment paradigm away from invasive eye injections and laser treatments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OTT166 OTT166 is a topical (eye drop) drug candidate in clinical development for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. It is being developed as a non-invasive therapy that can be self-administered at home, with the goal of reducing or eliminating the need for invasive intravitreal eye injections or laser treatments for patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Adverum Biotechnologies: Adverum develops intravitreal gene therapies for retinal vascular diseases including diabetic retinopathy. It is a comparable clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech targeting the same patient population with a different modality.
• Kodiak Sciences: Kodiak Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for retinal diseases, including diabetic macular edema and other DR-related complications. Comparable in stage and indication focus.
• Aerpio Pharmaceuticals: Aerpio was a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech developing AKB-9778, a small-molecule topical (subcutaneous) candidate for diabetic retinopathy — a direct mechanistic and indication parallel to OcuTerra's OTT166 program.
• Graybug Vision: Graybug Vision developed sustained-release therapeutics for wet AMD and DR with the goal of reducing injection burden — directly aligned with OcuTerra's mission to reduce treatment invasiveness in retinal disease.

Broad incumbents

• Regenxbio: Regenxbio develops gene therapies including ABECMA and is advancing RGX-314 for diabetic retinopathy and wet AMD — a directly competitive and indication-overlap peer in the DR treatment space.
• Iveric Bio: Iveric Bio developed and commercialized IZERVAY for geographic atrophy and was acquired by Astellas for ~$5.9B. It represents a peer exit benchmark for clinical-stage ophthalmology biotechs targeting retinal indications.
• Aerie Pharmaceuticals: Aerie Pharmaceuticals developed and commercialized ophthalmic products (Rocklatan, Rhopressa) for glaucoma. While focused on front-of-eye disease, it is a comparable small-molecule ophthalmology pharma business model.
• Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Apellis is a commercial-stage ophthalmology company with approved retinal therapeutics (SYFOVRE for GA, EMPAVELI). While broader in scope and stage, it operates in the same retinal disease commercial market OcuTerra targets.

Emerging players

• Allegro Ophthalmics: Allegro Ophthalmics developed integrin-targeted therapies for retinal diseases including DME — a small clinical-stage peer in the retinal vascular disease space targeting similar patient populations.
• Gemini Therapeutics: Gemini Therapeutics is a clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech developing therapies for dry AMD and other retinal conditions — a comparable emerging clinical-stage peer in adjacent retinal indications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OcuTerra Therapeutics