EyeDura Therapeutics Partners with SERI to Advance Insulin-Based Topical Therapy for Neurotrophic Keratitis

EyeDura Therapeutics has initiated preclinical efficacy studies in collaboration with the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI). The studies will advance the company’s lead insulin-based eye drop treatment for neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a rare, degenerative corneal disease affecting approximately 71,000 patients in the United States.

“This partnership with SERI, a global leader in ophthalmic research, strengthens our ability to deliver innovative treatments for NK,” said Srini Venkatesh, PhD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of EyeDura. “It accelerates our clinical development and supports our mission to expand access to transformative therapies worldwide.”

Neurotrophic keratitis results from damage to the corneal nerves, leading to progressive corneal epithelial breakdown, ulceration, and vision loss, with severe cases potentially causing blindness. Current treatment options are limited and often require frequent dosing or surgical intervention, underscoring the urgent need for more effective and patient-friendly therapies.

EyeDura’s proprietary sustained-release technology aims to deliver therapeutic drug levels from a single drop lasting seven days or longer, a significant improvement over conventional drops that require multiple daily applications. The approach could improve patient adherence, clinical outcomes, and overall treatment costs, according to EyeDura.

By joining forces with SERI, EyeDura gains access to research infrastructure and specialized preclinical models that will help demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its insulin-based therapy.

“We are excited to collaborate with EyeDura to address the unmet needs in NK treatment,” said Associate Professor Yu-Chi Liu, MCI, MD, PhD, Co-Head of Regenerative Therapy and Clinical Scientist at SERI. “By leveraging SERI’s expertise and preclinical models, we aim to generate pivotal data to advance this promising therapy toward clinical success.”

For more information, visit www.eyedura.com.