Based in Vero Beach, Florida, Quinton Oswald has served as CEO of Notal Vision and continues to advise the corporate leadership on strategy in developing AI-integrated monitoring solutions for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One of Vero Beach resident Quinton Oswald’s accomplishments while at Genentech was developing and launching the first effective drug for treating wet AMD.

The launch of Lucentis (ranibizumab) came after Genentech developed Avastin (bevacizumab), a full-length monoclonal antibody developed to treat certain forms of cancer. Administered intravenously, Avastin impedes the development of new blood vessels, which helps retard tumor growth, since tumors require blood as a growth medium.

Lucentis was developed from the murine monoclonal antibody as an antigen-binding fragment, which is a much smaller molecule than an antibody. The reason for this downsizing had to do with requirements of administering the drug directly into the eye, so that it would travel without issue to the retina. Smaller fragments were assessed as being more effective at accomplishing this, given constraints in eye tissue transport systems.

Available in vial form since 2006, and in a pre-filled syringe since 2016, Lucentis (like Avastin) works to block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is responsible for growing blood vessels. In particular, it addresses the issue of excess VEGF, which can cause abnormal blood vessel growth and resulting vision challenges.