Microplasmin is a truncated and stable form of plasmin, a naturally occurring enzyme that dissolves protein formations that are crucial to blood clot (thrombus) formation. Similar protein formations are also seen linking the vitreous to the retina in the eye, which means that microplasmin has the potential to be used in the treatment of a number of important ophthalmic indications. ThromboGenics has exclusively in-licensed microplasmin from the Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, KULeuven.

The Company has generated both clinical and preclinical data that have shown that the compound has high potential to be used in a range of significant indications including:

• Eye disease. ThromboGenics is developing microplasmin as a non-surgical treatment for focal vitreomacular adhesion (or traction), a condition in which the vitreous gel has an abnormally strong adhesion to the retina. Over time, the gel tends to pull forward and can cause vessel and retinal distortion causing decreased vision. Microplasmin, as a proteolytic enzyme, may be able to facilitate and in some cases replace vitrectomy and induce posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) by breaking down the protein structures which join the vitreous to the retina. Microplasmin therefore could offer a well tolerated and lower cost solution as compared to vitrectomy. In addition to treat focal vitreomacular adhesion, microplasmin might also have the potential to treat Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) specifically in those patients where vitreomacular adhesion might play an important role in their condition.

• Thrombotic disease. ThromboGenics believes that there is a substantial unmet clinical need for safer and more effective treatments for a number of cardiovascular diseases where thrombosis plays an important role. The Company has succesfully conducted clinical trials with microplasmin in stroke and is now looking for a partner to proceed in this indication.