Healome Therapeutics, a spinout from the University of Birmingham, has successfully closed a £2 million seed financing round led by Empirical Ventures, with contributions from DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio, and SFC Capital. The funding aims to propel the pre-clinical development, scale up manufacturing, engage with regulatory bodies like the MHRA and FDA, and move towards first-in-human studies anticipated in 2027.
Traditional eye drops are often ineffective due to their short retention on the ocular surface, necessitating frequent applications and resulting in low adherence rates among patients. Healome addresses this issue with an innovative eye-drop matrix that transforms from liquid to a lubricating and protective matrix upon application, promising longer retention and effective drug delivery. This technology is being tailored for conditions such as dry eye disease, ocular surface inflammation, and corneal injuries, and holds potential for chronic drug delivery and rare diseases like Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
EB, a genetic disorder affecting around 500,000 people worldwide, often leads to severe ocular complications. Healome’s technology offers hope for better management of these complications, supported by investments from DEBRA Research and Cure EB. The company’s matrix technology is based on pharmaceutical- and food-grade polymers structured into unique architectures, minimizing complex modifications and easing manufacturing and regulatory processes.
