MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the ocular drug delivery market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes EyeGate Pharma with the 2008 North American Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation of the Year Award in Ocular Drug Delivery. The Company has shown great technological expertise in developing its EyeGate(R) II delivery system, a non-invasive, iontophoretic ocular drug delivery platform that addresses and overcomes many challenges associated with treating serious ocular diseases.
The Company’s faith in the potential of iontophoresis technology to effectively deliver drugs to the eye has helped it develop a novel system that can transsclerally deliver a broad spectrum of therapeutics for both the anterior and posterior tissues of the eye.
“This Award is a great honor to receive from the respected Frost & Sullivan organization,” comments Stephen From, President and Chief Executive Officer of EyeGate Pharma. “I am pleased to accept this Award on behalf of EyeGate Pharma, and to recognize the team that makes our unique drug delivery system a reality. It’s not just management and investors, it’s the engineers, chemists, biologists, clinical development, regulatory and quality assurance experts who have contributed to our continued success. The convergence of all of these disciplines into a highly focused company is what distinguishes EyeGate Pharma from the competition. It is gratifying to see the recognition for our innovation, which is expected to bring significant contributions to both patients afflicted with serious ocular diseases and the physicians who treat them.”
The EyeGate(R) II Delivery System discharges a low-voltage electrical current that mobilizes charged substances (therapeutics) into and through the cells and tissues of the eye, effectively overcoming the challenges posed by the eye’s natural protective barriers. The EyeGate(R) II uses an electrical current to hydrolyze water, thereby increasing ion mobility so that the charged drug is delivered in greater concentrations across the sclera to targeted tissues in the anterior and posterior segments of the eye.
“To ensure consistency and accuracy in administered dosages, the EyeGate(R) II is coulomb-controlled, meaning the device is designed to automatically regulate the delivery of each drug unit by maintaining a constant current in the iontophoretic circuit,” explains Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Misty Hughes. “Additionally, the EyeGate generator can be programmed to deliver drugs at different rates and doses tailored to the specific patient’s needs.”
EyeGate Pharma’s immediate initiatives address the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as uveitis, which is responsible for an estimated 10 to 15 percent of all cases of blindness in the United States. It recently initiated two landmark phase II clinical studies of the EyeGate(R) II system, focusing on its lead investigatory compound, EGP-437.
“Recently, the research team demonstrated that the system can deliver controlled-release nanoparticles into and through the ocular surface,” continues Hughes. “Once drug-load nanoparticle formulations are optimized for delivery and release, they could offer patients non-invasive, single-treatment options lasting months, dramatically changing the paradigm for managing chronic ocular diseases like glaucoma and dry eye.”
EyeGate Pharma has cleverly avoided the high-risk and costly early-stage drug discovery process by developing its own in-house research laboratory so that it can formulate ophthalmic drugs for iontophoresis. Research has not only shown that the EyeGate(R) II Delivery System is effective for delivering siRNAs into intraocular tissues, but also that the electrical gradient produced increases the cellular uptake of oligonucleotides.
The technology’s potentially broad applicability in treating numerous eye diseases such as uveitis, dry eye, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, is supplemented by its many notable benefits over standard modes of treatment. Its painless and needle-free administration will drastically reduce the occurrence of complications such as retinal damage, infection, and other serious visual disturbances associated with ocular injections and implants.
“The EyeGate(R) II Delivery System also offers a cost and convenience benefit, which helps promote patient compliance,” concludes Hughes. “With non- specialist ophthalmologists able to perform this procedure in-office, a lower cost of care, and an average drug delivery time of one to five minutes makes the EyeGate(R) II Delivery System appealing to physicians and patients, alike.”
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated technological superiority within its industry. This Award recognizes the ability of EyeGate Pharma to successfully develop and introduce new technology, formulate a well-designed product family, and make significant product performance contributions to the industry.
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
About EyeGate Pharma
EyeGate was founded in 1998 with technology licensed from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami. EyeGate’s transscleral (white membrane of the eye) iontophoresis delivery platform, the EyeGate(R) II Delivery System, was developed to safely deliver a wide range of therapeutics to both the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye. For more information, please visit http://www.eyegatepharma.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company’s TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership(TM) empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Partnership Services, visit http://www.awards.frost.com.
CONTACT: Jake Wengroff of Frost & Sullivan, +1-210-247-3806,
jake.wengroff@frost.com
Web site: http://www.awards.frost.com/
http://www.eyegatepharma.com/
