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news.Preclinical testing has begun on the novel glaucoma treatment recently licensed by Advanced Refractive Technologies (ART). This first step in clinical trials will be to assess the safety and efficacy of the compound before the initiation of human trials.
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The in vitro portion of this testing will require approximately six months to complete at which time the in vivo testing will begin. After six months of this in vivo testing, the phase I human trials should be underway.
This compound, derived from monoclonal antibodies, works specifically on one structure of the eye, known as Schlemm’s Canal, in order to improve the outflow of fluid in the eye. Glaucoma is caused by an increase of pressure within the eye and can be controlled by either reducing the inflow of aqueous humor into the eye or increasing the outflow.
Commenting on the studies, Randy Bailey, president and CEO of ART, said: “The most intriguing aspect of this compound is that it may change the paradigm of glaucoma treatment which has traditionally been a daily treatment with drops.
“This new drug may have the possibility of as few as two treatments per year for the patient. If this proves to be true, the problem of patient compliance will be a thing of the past.”
Glaucoma is a serious and common eye disease. A recent study published by authors from the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins University stated that there will be 60.5 million people worldwide with the two most common kinds of glaucoma in 2010 and that number will rise to 79.6 million by 2020.
“The goal of this technology is to specifically target the diseased tissue in glaucoma with therapeutics to more effectively lower intraocular pressure,” said Dr W. Daniel Stamer, a recognized expert in glaucoma research.
“Our technology is designed to flush out debris that inappropriately accumulates in the drain part of glaucomatous eyes and restore intraocular pressure back to normal levels.”