There’s a new meeting on the retina calendar.
This November, The Empire Forum will bring retina specialists, drug developers, and investors into the same conversation about emerging therapies and what it takes to incorporate them into clinical practice.
By pairing pipeline updates with discussions of financing, commercialization, and adoption, this first-ever event aims to help clinicians understand which treatments are in development—and the financial and practical hurdles to bringing them into patient care.
First, the essentials.
When: Thursday, Nov. 5, from 12 to 8 pm EST
Where: Sheraton Times Square in New York City, New York
- To note: This will be held the day before OSN New York & Retina kicks off in the very same hotel. Eyes On Eyecare will be onsite as the Forum’s official media partner.
What to expect: The one-day-only meeting is designed for direct dialogue among retina specialists, biotech and pharma decision-makers, and healthcare investors.
On the agenda: late-stage development, emerging science, commercialization, and the practical implications of potential new treatments.
Let’s get a look at the clinical lineup.
The scientific program includes four disease-focused sections:
- Geographic atrophy (GA): complement inhibition, neuroprotection, mitochondrial therapies, and emerging phase 2 and phase 3 programs.
- Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD): sustained delivery, gene therapies, and innovations targeting the VEGF pathway.
- Diabetic macular edema (DME): extended-duration treatments, combination approaches, and novel biologics.
- Rare and inherited retinal diseases: gene replacement, gene editing, cell therapies, and commercialization considerations.
There’s an investment component, too, right?
Correct. A fifth section will examine financing for retinal innovation, with planned discussions on funding strategies, mergers and acquisitions, partnering opportunities, and investors’ assessments of the pipeline and commercial outlook.
So who’s leading the discussion?
Co-chairs Rishi P. Singh, MD, FASRS, and David Eichenbaum, MD, FASRS.
Their vision: for this inaugural meeting to serve as a place examining both the promise of emerging retinal therapies and the work required to bring them into patient care.
“Retina is entering an extraordinary period of scientific progress,” Dr. Singh stated on the forum’s website.
- He added: "From geographic atrophy to gene therapy, The Empire Forum brings the full retina pipeline—and the people in it—into one room. It's the conversation our field has needed."
Dr. Eichenbaum emphasized that meaningful progress also requires attention to patient needs, treatment burden, commercialization, and adoption in clinical practice—considerations the two aim to bring into the same discussion.
“The Empire Forum addresses perhaps the last unmet need in retina meetings: a day for MDs, industry, and investment to all come to the table in NYC,” he added.
Also worth noting: The forum is produced by BioPharma Medical Solutions, led by founder and CEO Daniel Salomone.
And what type of presentations can we expect?
Short durations—with ample time for discussion.
The format includes 7-minute podium presentations followed by 3-minute Q&As, moderated panels, expert commentary, and investor presentations.
Scientific programming and exhibits are scheduled from noon to 7 pm EST, followed by a networking reception from 7 to 8 pm EST.
So! What if I want to go?
Individual registration is now open:
- Advance registration: $100, through Sept. 30, 2026
- On-site registration: $200, subject to space
Click here to register for The Empire Forum.
Editor’s note: The conversation is just getting started. Stay with Glance for continuing coverage of The Empire Forum as Nov. 5 approaches.