Stuart Therapeutics Publishes New Study Demonstrating Potential of Collagen Mimetic Peptides in Treating Ophthalmic Disease

Stuart Therapeutics announced the publication of a preclinical study in Pharmaceuticals highlighting the potential of collagen mimetic peptides (CMPs) in restoring ocular tissue integrity and combating diseases such as myopia.

The study provides evidence that CMPs, designed to bind to and repair damaged collagen, can help restore the stiffness of ocular tissues that have been compromised by stress, such as elevated IOP. Specifically, the researchers observed that the topical application of CMPs in an animal model significantly improved the structural integrity of the collagen-rich peripapillary sclera.

“These encouraging results add to our growing body of research supporting the therapeutic potential of CMPs in a range of chronic ophthalmic diseases,” Eric Schlumpf, President and CEO of Stuart Therapeutics, said in a company news release. “Our CMP candidates, developed from our proprietary PolyCol technology platform, represent a novel drug class with a unique mechanism of action. This study reinforces our confidence in advancing our clinical pipeline and exploring broader indications.”

Led by Dr. David Calkins, Vice President for Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the study demonstrated that sustained stress from elevated IOP leads to a reduction in scleral stiffness and fragmentation of collagen over a 4-week period. However, application of CMPs to the ocular surface showed a concurrent restoration of both collagen structure and tissue stiffness.

“Stress-induced reduction in tissue stiffness and collagen damage occur, and facilitate disease progression, in many conditions that involve the peripapillary sclera, including myopia,” said Dr. Calkins. “While further investigation is needed, our results suggest that CMPs could support the eye’s biomechanical resilience by promoting the repair of damaged collagen.”

Stuart Therapeutics recently completed a phase 3 trial of its lead compound ST-100 for dry eye disease, with results demonstrating excellent safety and tolerability. The company believes this safety profile, coupled with the unique mechanism of collagen repair, positions CMPs as a potentially transformative therapy for myopia and other collagen-related ocular diseases.