Summary:
Hong Kong's Alephoson Biopharmaceuticals is leading global clinical trials for eye-drug delivery.
The start-up's innovative technology combines cell-penetration peptide (CPP) with existing biologics.
Success could allow patients to receive medication through eyedrops rather than injections.
Alephoson is partnering with universities in Hong Kong, China, Asia, and the US for trials.
Plans to seek FDA authorization for trials by early next year.
Transforming Eye Disease Treatments
A Hong Kong biotech start-up, Alephoson Biopharmaceuticals, is collaborating with several university partners to conduct global clinical trials aimed at improving the way drugs are delivered for common eye diseases. Established in 2019, Alephoson has pioneered a technology that merges a proprietary cell-penetration peptide (CPP) compound with existing biologic medications used to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetes-related macular edema (DME).
A Game-Changer for Patients
According to Benjamin Lee, the founder and CEO of Alephoson, if the upcoming clinical trials are successful, patients may soon be able to receive medication through eyedrops instead of undergoing painful injections into the back of the eye cavity.
Strategic Partnerships and Future Plans
Alephoson is focused on forging partnerships with university hospitals across Hong Kong, mainland China, Asia, and the United States to facilitate their planned clinical trials. Lee stated, "As a research-and-development-focused company, we are committed to advancing our technology through collaboration."
Regulatory Pathway
The company aims to complete a preclinical toxicity study within the next 12 months, with plans to seek authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Phase 1 and 2a investigational drug trials by the first quarter of next year.
Innovative Origins
The concept of utilizing CPP as a drug delivery system was developed by Professor Wei Gang, an Alephoson co-founder and deputy director of the Department of Pharmaceutics at Fudan University in Shanghai.
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