The Society of Toxicology Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology (SOT CCT) meeting “Ocular Toxicology, Pharmacology, and Drug Delivery: An Eye on the Future” was held on the Genentech campus in South San Francisco on June 27‒28, 2016. The meeting was a great success with 165 attendees, 22 sponsors, and 23 speakers. Presentation topics included development strategies for protein-based intravitreal therapeutics, drug and toxicant-induced retinal toxicity, and the safety assessment of novel drug delivery, cell, and gene-based therapies.
Additionally, roundtable discussions were held on each day featuring the speakers and moderated by the organizing committee. These sessions focused on the regulatory and scientific challenges associated with immunogenicity of protein-based therapeutics and novel ocular delivery technologies. The roundtables were well attended and provided all involved with insight into the current science of ocular toxicology as well as the regulatory environment governing the development of novel ocular therapeutics.
A survey of attendees has been circulated to gauge the value of the workshop to them and to follow-up on suggestions for future workshops focused on ocular drug delivery and toxicity. As a consequence of this meeting, a number of attendees expressed interest in joining SOT and the Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section.
Evan Thackaberry & Chris Somps, CCT Co-Chairs