InteliSpark client, Bedrock Therapeutics Inc., is collaborating with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, on their newly awarded phase I STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) project from the National Eye Institute to develop a novel therapy in the prevention of corneal transplant rejection.
The cornea, the outmost layer of the eye that is transparent and dome-shaped and covers the iris, the black part of the eye, focuses light into the eye. Corneal blindness, the 4th most common cause of global blindness is any extreme decrease in vision or blindness due to diseases of the cornea. The most effective treatment currently is corneal transplantation or corneal graft in which either part or the entire cornea is replaced by a donated cornea.
Though corneal transplants may cure blindness, approximately 20–30% of corneal grafts are rejected within the first 5 years, and for high risk-cases, grafts are rejected within 3 years. The waiting lists for corneal transplants far exceeds the number of corneas donated with approximately only one cornea available for every 70 needed. This leaves many patients with limited mobility, emotional distress and an increased risk of falls and even death.
Dr. Brian Gilger, Co-Founder and Director of Preclinical Evaluation and Toxicology at Bedrock Therapeutics, is working with Dr. Matthew Hirsch, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to develop an immunomodulatory treatment, or therapeutics used to help regulate or normalize the immune system, to prevent corneal graft rejection. This therapy has the potential to increase the success rate for corneal transplant surgery and ultimately improve patient outcomes.