OptiKine™ is a Biodegradable Injectable Implant that targets chronic Inflammatory Eye Diseases (IED) such as Uveitis and Diabetic Eye Diseases (DED). The latter is based on recent research suggesting that DED such as Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema have a strong inflammatory component, similar to Uveitis.
Current IED and DED treatments are suboptimal due to lack of efficacy and the high rates of side effects. Steroids are still the most commonly used treatment, but they are both limited in efficacy and have severe side effects such as cataracts and glaucoma. Laser surgery is used in certain IED and DED cases to stop neovascularization. These surgeries show only temporary benefit; however, frequent procedures are required and long-term outcome is generally poor. Patients with these diseases are often not referred to Rheumatologists for systemic treatments until considerable damage has occurred.
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) is a cytokine (protein involved in cell communication) that controls inflammation and is found at high levels in the eyes of patients with DED and IED. Systemic delivery of TNF inhibitors has shown promise in treating patients with IED and DED. TNF inhibitors are currently used subcutaneously and intravenously to treat patients with advanced forms of the diseases. However, side effects include serious infections, heart failure, demyelination, increased cancer risk and the risk of developing other autoimmune disorders.
OptiKine™ will treat IED and DED by delivering already proven effective TNF inhibitors inside the Blood Eye Barrier (BEB). TheraKine believes that this will improve current treatments by:
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Controlling inflammation at a local level, inside the Blood Eye Barrier.
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Eliminating the severe side effects of systemic delivery.
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Reducing drug costs by delivering significantly reduced amounts of drugs directly into the eye.
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Reducing drug costs by lasting several months per single injection
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Improve outcomes through early treatment by an Ophthalmologist without a referral to a Rheumatologist
OptiKine™ is currently in pre-clinical trials.
For more information on OptiKine™'s delivery system, see TheraKine's Drug Delivery Platform