#United Kingdom #Birmingham #Epidermolysis Bullosa #Healome Therapeutics #Empirical Ventures

Healome Therapeutics Secures Funding for Eye Drop Innovation

Healome Therapeutics, a spin-out from the University of Birmingham, has made headlines by successfully securing £2 million in a seed funding round led by Empirical Ventures. This funding marks a significant milestone for the company, allowing it to advance its proprietary matrix technology for eye drops aimed at treating surface eye disorders. The round saw participation from various investors, including DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio, and existing investor SFC Capital.

The Eye Drop Challenge

Traditional eye drops have long been limited by their rapid washout from the eye surface, often requiring patients to administer them multiple times a day (up to 20 applications) for effective treatment. This scenario leads to poor adherence, particularly in chronic conditions, where compliance rates can plummet to as low as 20%. One prevalent condition is dry eye disease, which represents a major market opportunity valued globally at approximately $5 billion, affecting over 350 million individuals worldwide. The total addressable market for various eye surface diseases exceeds $12 billion.

Healome's Innovative Solution

Healome’s eye drop matrix technology offers a revolutionary approach. When applied, the drops behave like a liquid but quickly reorganize into a structured matrix that provides prolonged retention on the ocular surface. This innovative platform is capable of delivering a wide range of therapeutics, from small molecules to complex biologics. One of its notable applications includes delivering an anti-scarring biologic in preclinical models, resulting in rapid corneal healing with minimal side effects.

The technology is being specifically designed for treating dry eye syndrome, surface eye inflammations, corneal injuries, and even rare disorders associated with severe eye surface damage. Healome boasts five patent families that cover the underlying matrix architecture, which employs established pharmaceutical- and food-grade polymers arranged into proprietary structures that simplify manufacturing and regulatory processes.

Addressing Rare Conditions

Among the critical areas of focus is Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic condition impacting around 500,000 individuals globally, with an estimated 5-20% experiencing eye-related complications. These complications are often severe, involving chronic pain and recurrent corneal abrasions that pose a threat to vision due to scarring. The unmet needs for patients and families dealing with EB have been highlighted in the Netflix documentary 'Matter of Time.' The funding from DEBRA Research and Cure EB will bolster Healome's efforts in developing solutions for EB-associated eye complications.

Founders and Their Vision

Healome was founded by a team of experienced professionals, including Professor Liam Grover, Professor Tony Metcalfe, Dr. Richard Moakes, and Dr. Richard Williams, who serves as CEO. Together, they bring over 80 years of expertise in biomaterials, regenerative medicine, and drug development. Their research has been published in six peer-reviewed articles, originating from the Healthcare Technologies Institute at the University of Birmingham.

According to Richard Williams, CEO of Healome Therapeutics, "Utilizing our matrix structure to extend the residence time of novel and existing therapeutics presents the possibility of reduced dosing requirements, improved adherence, and ultimately better outcomes across a range of indications. This funding allows us to push the platform toward clinical applications."

Johnathan Matlock, co-founder and general partner at Empirical Ventures, expressed confidence in Healome's mission, stating, "Healome targets a quantifiable bottleneck—the residence time of therapeutics on the eye’s surface—with a manufacturing-friendly approach based on well-characterized polymers. The data demonstrating the team’s potential to unlock further therapeutic benefits for the eye convinces us that this is a groundbreaking platform rather than just an incremental formulation improvement."

Dr. Christoph Coch, MD, managing director of DEBRA Research, added, "For many living with EB, the disease transcends skin issues to affect the eyes significantly. Blistering and wounds can occur spontaneously or be triggered by friction, dryness, or irritation, leading to severe pain and considerable impairments in daily life. As there are no specific treatments available for these eye complications, we’re excited to support Healome in its quest to develop patient-friendly and effective therapeutic solutions in this space."

Key Information

• - Company: Healome Therapeutics
• - Founded: 2021
• - Headquarters: Birmingham, UK
• - Industry: Eye Care/Ophthalmic Drug Delivery
• - Founders: Prof. Liam Grover, Prof. Tony Metcalfe, Dr. Richard Moakes, Dr. Richard Williams
• - Funds Raised: £2,000,000 (oversubscribed)
• - Lead Investor: Empirical Ventures
• - Participating Investors: DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio, SFC Capital
• - First Human Application Target: 2027
• - Intellectual Property: Patents granted in Japan and South Korea; filed globally in key markets.

Conclusion

With the newly acquired funding, Healome Therapeutics is poised to make significant strides in the clinical development of its innovative eye drop technology. As they advance toward their first human studies in 2027, the potential for transforming the treatment landscape for patients with surface eye diseases has never been more promising.