Celanese, Johns Hopkins University teaming up to advance sustained ocular drug delivery to the suprachoroidal space

The direct administration of therapeutics to the suprachoroidal space is growing more common as an approach for the treatment of retinal disorders. (Adobe Stock image)

Celanese Corp. this week announced an agreement with Johns Hopkins University Department of Ophthalmology to collaborate on a study of sustained drug delivery to the suprachoroidal space in the eye.

According to a news release,

Treatment currently consists of frequent ocular injections performed at the physician’s office.

A bioinert implant based on the VitalDose drug delivery platform can provide sustained ocular drug delivery for greater than six months, providing an alternative approach for reliable, continuous dosing and reducing the treatment burden for the patient.

According to Celanese, the drug delivery platform independently has proven biocompatibility and achieves greater than 6 months release of mAbs, peptides, small molecules and RNAi therapeutics, making it suitable for delivering a variety of therapeutics used for ophthalmologic conditions.

Cyonna Holmes, global business strategy leader for ophthalmology at Celanese, pointed out in the news release that the company’s collaboration with John Hopkins Department of Ophthalmology allows the company to seek out scientific advancements with potential to improve patient health in ophthalmology.

“The VitalDose technology platform has potential well beyond its present commercialized applications,” Holmes said in a statement. “That’s why we explore collaborations that cross traditional boundaries with the goal to realize improvements in patient compliance and health through innovative treatments in areas like ophthalmology, women’s health, rare diseases and the central nervous system."

According to the news release, a team of scientists at the Celanese Development & Feasibility Lab will independently conduct portions of the planned research in this dedicated pharmaceutical facility.

Since its inception in 2021, the lab has provided customized support to accelerate customers’ long-acting drug delivery development programs.

At the lab, scientists provide myriad services, including material characterization; injection molding, hot-melt extrusion and other prototyping capabilities; monolithic or multi-layer drug-loaded prototypes; in vitro characterization and drug release studies; and tooling design and development.

The company noted that its drug delivery platform provides controlled-release performance and has a long history of use in approved parenteral drug products in the United States and Europe.