Technology enable us to manufacture new generation glaucoma implant exploiting time-tested action/surgery routes
Our ocular implant should reduce risk for patient and stay effective for longer time compared with existing treatments at a fraction of cost.
We are in preclinical stage.
Problem scope
Open angle glaucoma is the second main reason of blindness in the world. Disease is irreversible, progressive and chronic. It typically happens at the age of over 40 years old.
1 in 40 adults over 40 year old and 4 in 40 adults over 80 year old will face it.
Mean time to live with this disease will be around 13 years.
Unmet patient need
The only way to manage (i.e. slow down progression) glaucoma is to reduce and control internal ocular pressure. It can be done via decrease of aqueous humour production or improval of outflow.
Current algorithms of treatment include eye drops and surgery with progression in time.
Surgery always involve higher risk, though is more effective in ocular pressure reduction than eyedrops.
Novel micro-invasive implants try to reduce risk, but their effectiveness is sometimes limited. Traditional surgery is very effective, but is usually left as the last tool, as the need must compensate for the risk. Non-withstanding intra surgery and short term risks, in the long run the body tries to fix surgical intervention by scarring and encapsulation, which effectively prevents required outflow facilitation.
Our quest is to build new generation implant, which would respond to the need of having tool which will be as effective as traditional surgery, but with much better risk profile and available for earlier implantation.
Opportunity
Glaucoma implant/surgery market will reach $6.5bn by 2030 at +35% CAGR.
Our additively manufactured implant is expected to be very competitive in terms of costs to the patients and healthcare system.
Glaucoma implant
We are using cutting edge additive micro manufacturing technology and support from leading glaucoma surgeons. Our technology of sub centimeter scale with features down to micrometer allows for completely novel implant features. While technology is cutting edge and only possible in recent years, we are targeting to exploit the same time-tested action route.
The microfluidic research on microchannels was done together with Hochcschule Luzern (Switzerland) and supported by Innosuisse (Switzerland) grant. The article has been published as of recent. It is the first dual action implant mimicking natural ocular outflow routes and having built in outflow control with preset and differentiated target.
EU/USA patent pending.