plasma-derived serum eye drops
“Plasma Derived Serum Eye Drops, Chitosan Enhanced”, development project name sermEYES, is our novel plasma-based eye serum with a goal to provide accelerated healing of surface wounds on eyes, which includes chronic conditions such as dry eye disease (DED). The serum is uniquely powered by proteins extracted from human plasma, for healing, and chitosan, which is antimicrobial and allows the eye-drop to remain on the surface longer without impacting vision. The powerful combination of these two components enables a new and effective therapy to promote healing.
Doctors caring for patients with ocular surface disease refractory to artificial tears and topical medications have turned to plasma/serum tears. Plasma tears are a near-physiologic replacement for the natural tear and include the supportive and protective factors that naturally occur in healthy human tears. They contain similar proteins, electrolytes, and antimicrobial compounds found in healthy tears.
The advantage of plasma is that many of its biochemical characteristics, including pH, osmolality, vitamins, fibronectin, growth factors are similar to human tears. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that plasma/serum and other blood derivatives enhance corneal epithelial wound healing, inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines, and increase the number of goblet cells and mucin expression in the conjunctiva.
Plasma/serum tears have been shown to contain anti-inflammatory properties not only by containing inhibitors of inflammatory cytokines, but they also increase goblet cells that produce the gel-forming secretory mucin MUC5AC.
Plasma has also been shown to increase expression of all the membrane-associated mucins in the human ocular surface, MUC1, MUC4, and MUC16, in HCjE telomerase-immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cell lines.
overcoming risks and challenges
Serum eye drops are known to be efficacious, but today these products are made from a patient’s own blood, not fda approved, not sterilized, and difficult to obtain.
ECI will deliver eye drops manufactured from safe donated human plasma that can provide these benefits without individuals needing to undergo repeated needle sticks and blood draws. Plasma used for ECI’s production will undergo safety testing and safety procedures beyond those currently performed on transfused blood products within the USA. ECI’s plasma will undergo pathogen inactivation (improving safety) and be enriched with chitosan (improving viscosity with antimicrobial properties).
Unlike existing serum drops, made from a patient’s own blood, ECI’s eye drop will be commercially manufactured, FDA-approved, and broadly available. It will contain vital components not found in other artificial tears or dry eye treatment products.
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our platform
Our platform leverages plasma from donated human blood and a proprietary antimicrobial molecule (form of chitosan). The tissue-repairing benefits of plasma-derived products, combined with the sustained action of chitosan, may provide relief and long-lasting therapeutic action.
patients
Patients who experience conditions such as dry eye disease, wounds or burns on skin and mucous membranes, or chronic moisture may benefit from this fusion of plasma and chitosan as a forward-thinking and potent strategy to potentially address these conditions with easier access and fewer side effects.
