Biolight gains glaucoma treatment patent

Tel-Aviv, Israel-BioLight Israeli Life Sciences Investments’ ViSci, its wholly owned subsidiary, has been informed that the FDA has granted a patent number covering the proprietary formulation of its glaucoma treatment, latanoprost, by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The patent is intended to protect, inter alia, the chemical structure of the active ingredient for the treatment. The patent is also covering the release of the active ingredient from the Eye-D subconjunctival insert and its use in treating elevated IOP in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

The patent and its registration will be in effect at least until April 2030.

ViSci holds an exclusive option from Novaer to a worldwide exclusive license for any use of the insert's proprietary technology.

Recently, ViSci has completed an ocular toxicology and safety study in animals and has filed an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA to conduct a phase I/IIa clinical study with the treatment.

The study will be conducted at up to 7 investigative sites in the United States.

"We believe that our (insert) will provide an effective solution to the well-known poor compliance with chronic eye-drop administration commonly used today as a treatment for glaucoma,” said Suzana Nahum-Zilberberg, BioLight's chief executive officer. “This U.S. patent approval will strengthen our business, marketing, and competitive advantages of our company."

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