SpyGlass Pharma, Inc released 6-month data from the first-in-human feasibility trial of the SpyGlass drug delivery platform, illustrating its ability to significantly lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Tell me about the SpyGlass platform.
The SpyGlass platform consists of a single-piece, hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) and two drug-eluting pads which act as “bladders” securely attached to the haptics of the IOL. This lens is implanted directly into the capsular bag at the time of cataract surgery.
These drug pads remain outside the visual axis and continuously elute directly into the aqueous humor, targeting3 years of sustained delivery bimatoprost therapy to lower IOP in patients.
Talk about the first-in-human trial.
The trial consisted of 23 patients undergoing cataract extraction that were randomized to receive one of three doses of bimatoprost using the SpyGlass platform.
After 6 months, the treatment demonstrated a 45% mean IOP reduction across all treatment groups, and no participants required additional IOP-lowering therapies.
No significant adverse events were reported, and visual outcomes were similar to those achieved with commercially available IOLs.
Significance?
The SpyGlass platform looks to address the key challenge in treating glaucoma and ocular hypertension, patient noncompliance associated with the chronic use of topical therapy.
Without major changes to the standard cataract procedure, the platform has the potential to improve vision due to cataracts while adding the benefit of delivering multiple years of sustained-release bimatoprost therapy for glaucoma patients.
While the initial program focuses on glaucoma management at the time of cataract surgery, the SpyGlass platform could potentially treat various types of ophthalmic disease, including chronic uveitis and macular degeneration.
What’s next?
SpyGlass is currently preparing an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission to the FDA, with the goal of enrolling patients in a phase 1/2 combined clinical trial later in 2023.