NurExone’s Exosome-Based Exopten Therapy Studied to Treat Glaucoma

NurExone Biologic announced a preclinical study to explore the potential of one of the company’s exosome-based therapies, Exopten, in regenerating damaged optic nerves. The study is NurExone Biologic’s latest step in expanding potential clinical indications for its exosome-loaded drugs, noted the company.

Professor Michael Belkin, MD, from Tel Aviv University’s Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, initiated the study. It was led by principal investigators Professor Ygal Rotenstreich, MD, and Ifat Sher, PhD, from the Sheba Medical Center Eye Institute in Tel Aviv.

“We are excited to perform preclinical studies on optical nerve regeneration at the Sheba Medical Center Eye Institute,” commented Prof. Belkin in the company’s press release. “If this experimental direction is successful, I believe we may be able to translate the success quickly to clinical practice. Our ultimate goal is to restore and improve the quality of life for individuals affected by optic nerve diseases and injuries.”

The company noted that the background of the study is that current treatments for a damaged optic nerve are limited and focus on preventing additional damage rather than regenerating or repairing the damaged nerve.

Based on NurExone’s trials on the spinal cord, exosome-loaded drugs may be able to change this paradigm with their potentially regenerative properties with respect to damaged nerves, advised the company.