iVeena Delivery Systems Secures $2 Million NEI Grant to Advance Pediatric Myopia Therapy

iVeena Delivery Systems has been awarded a $2 million phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI). The funding will accelerate development of iVeena’s novel topical eye drops designed to control pediatric myopia and other refractive disorders.

iVeena’s investigational therapy is a preservative-free prescription eye drop intended to slow or halt myopia progression in children. Unlike current off-label treatments, it aims to enhance corneal and scleral crosslinking without the dilation and anticholinergic side effects associated with existing pharmacologic options.

The NEI-funded research is led by Sarah Molokhia, PhD, Vice President of Research & Development at iVeena and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics at the University of Utah. The project, titled “Topical Eyedrops Increasing Lysyl Oxidase and Dopamine Activity to Control Myopia” (Award number: 2R44EY034770-02), will investigate disease mechanisms and evaluate how the therapy may prevent or slow pediatric myopia.

“The NEI has been extremely supportive of our research, and we are very grateful for their continued partnership,” said Dr. Molokhia. “This grant allows us to advance our program and better understand how our proprietary eye drops may transform the treatment of pediatric myopia.”