- First 65LAB award to a project led by Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore’s lead public sector R&D agency, extending support for Singapore’s public research base alongside Duke-NUS and NUS
- A*STAR researchers Professor Ashok Venkitaraman and Dr Zachary Gates are co-leading the development of a potential first-in-class therapy for optic neuropathies, a major cause of irreversible vision loss.
Singapore, 14 October 2026 – 65LAB has awarded US$1.69 million (approx. S$2.2 million) to an A*STAR-led research team developing a potential first-in-class therapy for optic neuropathies, including glaucoma and Non-arteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION).
The project is co-led by Professor Ashok Venkitaraman, from the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (A*STAR IMCB), as well as the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI) and Department of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS), together with Dr Zachary Gates, Senior Scientist at A*STAR IMCB and the A*STAR Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (A*STAR ISCE²).
The funding will accelerate the optimisation and preclinical evaluation of novel compounds designed to protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from degeneration. The programme builds on prior collaborative research involving A*STAR and NUS and aims to advance promising scientific discoveries towards therapeutic development and potential commercialisation. This highlights the role of partnerships in advancing innovations from Singapore’s public research base towards real-world healthcare and economic impact.
This marks 65LAB’s first award to a project from A*STAR, following three earlier awards to Duke-NUS Medical School and NUS.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and is projected to affect an estimated 111.8 million people aged 40 to 80 by 2040, with Asia bearing a disproportionate share of the global burden. Current treatments focus primarily on lowering intraocular pressure to slow disease progression, but there is no approved therapy that directly protects retinal neurons from degeneration. As a result, some patients continue to experience vision loss despite well-controlled intraocular pressure.
NAION, another optic neuropathy that can cause sudden and permanent vision loss, similarly involves damage to RGCs. There is currently no approved treatment specifically for this condition.
Prof Ashok and Dr Zachary at A*STAR have identified novel, selective inhibitors with the potential to directly protect retinal neurons from degeneration, creating a new therapeutic approach for diseases where existing treatments do not address this underlying mechanism.
“The path from discovery to medicine requires both scientific excellence and strong translational partnerships. This support from 65LAB will enable us to advance a promising new approach for optic neuropathies while accelerating its journey towards real-world impact.” said Professor Venkitaraman.
Accelerating drug discovery pathway and new company formation
65LAB was established by global investors ClavystBio, Leaps by Bayer, Lightstone Ventures and Polaris Partners, together with global life science company Evotec, to drive scientific advancement and create new biotech ventures from Singapore. Since its first award in July 2024, it has committed approximately US$6.4 million to four projects across Duke-NUS, NUS and A*STAR, spanning chronic inflammation, fibrosis, COPD and now, retinal degeneration.
Dr Ho Wen Qi, Therapeutics Lead at ClavystBio and Director of 65LAB said: “This momentum underscores the importance of close partnerships between academic institutions and industry leaders in accelerating the commercialisation of promising innovations. 65LAB’s funding will help generate critical preclinical data needed to advance promising projects to unlock their commercial and clinical potential.”
About 65LAB
65LAB was founded to turn innovations into lifesaving medicines. Our mission is to drive
scientific advancement and create new therapeutic companies from Singapore. We accelerate the drug discovery pathway and new company formation by bringing together the expertise of global partners — leading research institutions in Singapore, established life science investors, and reputed drug discovery and development company Evotec. 65 pays homage to the year Singapore became an independent nation. It is also Singapore’s country code.
For more information, please visit 65lab.sg
Media Contact
Steve Courtney, 65LAB, VP Expert-in-Residence
Email: steve.courtney@65lab.sg
