Unmet medical need and market size continue to drive venture investors to ophthalmic drug plays focused on diseases that blind.

Unmet medical need and market size continue to drive venture investors to ophthalmic drug plays focused on diseases that blind. This interest is fueled by a stable pool of acquirers and the ability to in-license innovative, clinically validated compounds, providing VCs with a jump start to a potential exit.

A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current, all profiles issue of Start-Up. This month's profile groups: Post-Macugen, Still In-Licensing to Uncover Value in Ophthalmology, Neurostimulation's Billion Dollar Markets, and Antibacterial Drug Development. Plus these Start-Up Across Health Care: Ascenta Therapeutics, CircuLite, CoroNovative and Endovalve.

Biotech start-up Danube Pharmaceuticals Inc. has in-licensed what it calls the only dual-mechanism of action, orally available small molecule in clinical testing for glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.