$OCUL NDA filing 4Q2026
Executive SummaryOn June 17, 2026, Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. announced aligned plans with the U.S. FDA to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for AXPAXLI™ (an axitinib intravitreal hydrogel) to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The submission is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026 under the 505(b)(2) pathway. Key Program Updates1. Wet AMD Program & AXPAXLI NDAFDA Alignment: Following a May 2026 Type C meeting, the FDA agreed to review the NDA based on a single pivotal trial. Submission Strategy: The NDA package will leverage Week 52 efficacy and safety data from the successful SOL-1 trial, supported by broad confirmatory evidence. Safety Requirements: To satisfy the FDA's requirement of a safety exposure dataset containing more than 300 patients, Ocular will conduct an interim safety analysis of the SOL-R trial in Q4 2026. Timeline: A pre-NDA meeting is scheduled for Q3 2026, with the full NDA submission targeted for Q4 2026. The 505(b)(2) pathway could potentially accelerate the review timeline by up to 60 days, positioning the drug for a potential 2027 launch. 2. Restructuring the SOL-R TrialEfficacy Data Dropped from NDA: SOL-R efficacy data is no longer part of the initial NDA submission plan. Trial Protocol Amendments: Ocular will maintain trial masking through Week 96 to evaluate new strategic secondary endpoints. This includes testing AXPAXLI's superiority against aflibercept (8mg) regarding changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), alongside the prevention of fibrosis and atrophy. Updated Timeline: Topline data for the modified SOL-R trial are now expected in Q1 2028. 3. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Program StreamliningPrioritizing HELIOS-3: Based on strong data from prior trials and market research favoring a once-yearly treatment regimen, Ocular is streamlining its DR program. Trial Design: The program will prioritize HELIOS-3 as a single global registrational Phase 3 superiority trial. It will evaluate a once-every-12-months (Q12M) dosing regimen of AXPAXLI against a sham injection in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Clinical Trial OverviewsTrialPhase / DesignPatient Population & EnrollmentKey Metrics / TimelineSOL-1 Phase 3, Double-masked, Superiority 344 treatment-naïve wet AMD patients (Randomization completed Dec 2024). Met primary endpoint at Week 36 ($p=0.0006$) and key secondary endpoint at Week 52 ($p<0.0001$). Year 2 safety data will be provided during the standard 120-day safety update. SOL-R Phase 3, Double-masked, 3-arm Non-inferiority 631 wet AMD patients (Randomization completed Dec 2025). No further enrollment. Primary endpoint is non-inferiority to aflibercept (2mg) at Week 56. Extended masking to Week 96 to evaluate new secondary superiority endpoints. Topline results expected Q1 2028. HELIOS-3 Phase 3, Double-masked, 2-arm Superiority Enrolling ~620 patients with moderately severe to severe NPDR without CI-DME. First patient randomized Nov 2025. Primary endpoint evaluates a $\ge$ 2-step change in diabetic retinopathy severity score (DRSS) at Week 56.