Unmet Needs & New Frontiers in Ophthalmology Drug Development

In the main portion of our second episode of "The Bench 2 Breakthrough" podcast, Greg Plunkett speaks with ophthalmologist and drug developer, Houman Hemmati, MD, PhD, about the biggest unmet needs and emerging opportunities across the ophthalmology space. Dr. Hemmati highlights areas such as ocular rosacea, autoimmune-related dry eye, glaucoma neuroprotection, inherited retinal diseases, and AMD, emphasizing that many current therapies still fall short in durability, efficacy, safety, or patient convenience. He also explains why retinal drug development remains especially challenging, from difficult regulatory endpoints and long trial timelines to the high costs of GLP tox, GMP manufacturing, and clinical execution. The conversation also explores the practical realities of treatment delivery, including why long-acting intravitreal therapies may remain more viable than topical options for many retinal indications. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Hemmati blends clinical, regulatory, and entrepreneurial perspectives while also sharing insight into the programs he is actively advancing to address these persistent gaps in eye care.“The Bench 2 Breakthrough Podcast” is the official podcast of Accelagen, created to share real-world insights from the clinical and regulatory front lines of biotech and pharmaceutical development. Hosted by Accelagen founder and CEO Greg Plunkett alongside co-host Rosa Plunkett, the podcast explores global, regional, and local industry news, emerging challenges, and new opportunities shaping the CRO landscape. Each episode blends practical experience with thoughtful discussion, featuring expert guests and perspectives that help sponsors navigate development pathways more efficiently. From early discovery to clinical execution, Bench 2 Breakthrough is about turning scientific progress into meaningful outcomes for patients.Accelagen is a Melbourne-based, award-winning Contract Research Organisation (CRO) specializing in end-to-end clinical trials, regulatory affairs, and biometrics for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Founded in 2010, it supports Phase I-IV trials and offers strategic guidance for drug and medical device development. We believe the future of human health needs a fresh, future-focused approach. We challenge existing conventions to deliver commercially savvy and patient-centric outcomes for leading biopharmaceutical and medical device companies in the fast-growing global trials market across Australia, North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.