Healome Therapeutics Secures £2 Million to Innovate Eye-Drop Technology for Eye Health Issues

Healome Therapeutics, a university spinout from Birmingham, has recently wrapped up a £2 million oversubscribed seed financing round, led by Empirical Ventures. Notable collaborators in this funding included DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio, and previous investor SFC Capital. The funds raised will facilitate the pre-clinical development, scaling of manufacturing, and necessary regulatory consultations with both the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the FDA. The ultimate goal is to initiate first-in-human studies by 2027.

The Challenge with Current Eye Drops

Conventional eye drops have certain limitations, notably their poor retention on the ocular surface. Traditional formulations are cleared in a matter of minutes, necessitating patients to administer drops as often as 20 times a day. This regimen leads to alarming treatment adherence rates of only around 20% among those who require ongoing care. Conditions like dry eye, a prevalent ocular surface ailment, create a substantial global market estimated at around $5 billion, affecting over 350 million individuals worldwide. The wider ocular surface disease category surpasses $12 billion across various related conditions.

Healome's Innovative Solution

Healome has developed an eye-drop matrix that initially behaves like a liquid upon application but then transitions into a clear and lubricating protective layer. This innovative platform is capable of delivering diverse drug types, ranging from small molecules to complex biologics. Pre-clinical trials have successfully demonstrated its ability to deliver a biologic treatment in models with severely injured and infected corneas, leading to rapid healing without significant side effects.

The primary focus of this technology includes treating dry eye disease, ocular surface inflammation, corneal injury, and specific rare diseases linked with severe ocular damage. Healome has filed five patent families related to this matrix technology, which harnesses well-established pharmaceutical and food-grade polymers arranged into proprietary configurations. This approach avoids complex chemical modifications that often complicate manufacturing and regulatory approval processes.

Addressing Rare Diseases like Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)

One area of particular concern is the rare genetic condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), which affects proximal 500,000 people worldwide. Of this number, estimates suggest that 5-20% may suffer from ocular problems including chronic pain and the risk of sight-threatening corneal abrasions. The challenges faced by patients with EB were showcased in the Netflix documentary Matter of Time, underscoring the urgent need for effective treatment solutions. Funding from DEBRA Research and Cure EB is directly aimed at supporting Healome's initiatives related to the ocular challenges associated with EB.

The Founding Team

Healome was co-founded by respected professionals in the field, including Professor Liam Grover, Professor Tony Metcalfe, Dr. Richard Moakes, and Dr. Richard Williams, who currently serves as CEO. This team boasts over 80 years of combined experience in biomaterials, regenerative medicine, and drug development, with a solid foundation rooted in research from the University of Birmingham's Healthcare Technologies Institute.

Richard Williams expressed that "utilizing our matrix to prolong the residence time of both novel and existing therapeutics can significantly cut down on dosages, enhance adherence, and ultimately lead to better outcomes for various conditions."

Johnathan Matlock, co-founder and General Partner at Empirical Ventures, highlighted Healome's innovative approach to addressing the crucial issue of drug residence time on the ocular surface, noting its potential impact on both society and healthcare at large.

Conclusion

As Healome Therapeutics embarks on this journey towards clinical application, the integration of advanced drug delivery systems promises to redefine treatment paradigms across a spectrum of ocular diseases. With this infusion of funding, the company is poised to bridge critical gaps in ocular health treatment and pave the way for innovative solutions for patients suffering from chronic eye conditions and rare diseases.

For more information, visit Healome Therapeutics’ official website: Healome Therapeutics.