Capsulution NanoScience AG, a Berlin-based company, and TheraKine Ltd., an Irish company with significant operations in the United States, are establishing a joint project for the treatment of serious eye diseases. Their aim is to develop an innovative drug-delivery system for ophthalmic applications which will enable local sustained release of one or multiple anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative biologic and small molecule compounds. This will allow the therapy of difficult to treat eye diseases such as uveitis, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The current treatment possibilities for inflammation of the eye are more than unsatisfactory. Steroids and immunosuppressants have many severe side effects and limited efficacy. Biologic compounds need regularly repeated intravenously or intravitreal injections at relatively high doses. When administered systemically, only traces of the compound reach the interior of the eye, but cause undesirable side effects due to high levels of the compound in other parts of the body. Intravitreal injections offer a solution to this; but currently these still require repeated injections and are limited to a small number of anti-VEGF drugs or long acting steroids. Only a small fraction of patients can be treated with current technology, and there are significant side effects such as internal bleeding, cataracts, retinal damage, increase of pressure inside the eye, and infection.
With the aid of Capsulution’s formulation technology, TheraKine will bring an innovative drug-delivery system to the market. “We selected Capsulution because they have the right IP, skilled staff, and an entrepreneurial spirit.”, explains TheraKine’s CEO Scott Hampton. The collaboration with the internationally-renowned developer of nanocomplexes offers a promising advance towards the formulation of very easily degradable, water-soluble biologic compounds in combination with water-insoluble anti-inflammatory compounds or small molecules. According to Capsulution’s Project CSO, Dr. Voigt: “For this application, controlled and sustained release of a pre-defined amount of compound is required.” The compound depot in the biodegradable implant should, if possible, only be injected into the eye once.
Mr. Hampton declares: “TheraKine's mission is the creation of therapeutic system to improve vision and prevent blindness”. He emphasizes the urgency of the situation: “Effective and safe treatments are desperately needed by millions of people who are currently suffering progressive vision loss due to chronic inflammatory and degenerative eye diseases. Our targeted local delivery will offer safety, effectiveness, and affordable treatment costs.”
The current treatment possibilities for inflammation of the eye are more than unsatisfactory. Steroids and immunosuppressants have many severe side effects and limited efficacy. Biologic compounds need regularly repeated intravenously or intravitreal injections at relatively high doses. When administered systemically, only traces of the compound reach the interior of the eye, but cause undesirable side effects due to high levels of the compound in other parts of the body. Intravitreal injections offer a solution to this; but currently these still require repeated injections and are limited to a small number of anti-VEGF drugs or long acting steroids. Only a small fraction of patients can be treated with current technology, and there are significant side effects such as internal bleeding, cataracts, retinal damage, increase of pressure inside the eye, and infection.
With the aid of Capsulution’s formulation technology, TheraKine will bring an innovative drug-delivery system to the market. “We selected Capsulution because they have the right IP, skilled staff, and an entrepreneurial spirit.”, explains TheraKine’s CEO Scott Hampton. The collaboration with the internationally-renowned developer of nanocomplexes offers a promising advance towards the formulation of very easily degradable, water-soluble biologic compounds in combination with water-insoluble anti-inflammatory compounds or small molecules. According to Capsulution’s Project CSO, Dr. Voigt: “For this application, controlled and sustained release of a pre-defined amount of compound is required.” The compound depot in the biodegradable implant should, if possible, only be injected into the eye once.
Mr. Hampton declares: “TheraKine's mission is the creation of therapeutic system to improve vision and prevent blindness”. He emphasizes the urgency of the situation: “Effective and safe treatments are desperately needed by millions of people who are currently suffering progressive vision loss due to chronic inflammatory and degenerative eye diseases. Our targeted local delivery will offer safety, effectiveness, and affordable treatment costs.”
