Formosa Pharmaceuticals, Singapore Eye Research Institute Partner on Next-Gen Ophthalmic Formulations

Formosa Pharmaceuticals and the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) are launching a strategic research collaboration to develop next-generation ophthalmic formulations.

Need for Ophthalmic Improvements

The aim of the partnership is to address what the two parties say are “significant” unmet needs. In particular, they say, treatments for corneal and ocular surface diseases are lacking.

The collaboration leverages Formosa’s proprietary APNT, or Active Pharmaceutical (ingredient) Nanoparticle technology in combination with SERI’s expertise in clinical research. APNT reduces the particle size of APIs down to stable nanoparticles that are uniform in size.

Formosa and SERI say they hope to join those clinical insights with innovative, clinically validated drug delivery platforms. Speaking of validation, the FDA provided that for APNT when it approved Byqlovi, a novel corticosteroid. Byqlovi is indicated for treatment of ocular inflammation and pain following ocular surgery.

Formosa Eager for Singapore Opportunity

SERI Principal Investigator and Singapore National Eye Center Clinician Scientist Yu-Chi Liu commented on the new partnership.

“Collaborating with Formosa Pharmaceuticals allows us to bridge the gap between benchside innovation and bedside application,” Liu said. “Our goal is to utilize advanced formulation technologies like APNT to create treatments that are not only more effective but also less burdensome for patients suffering from ocular conditions.”

Formosa says APNT’s technology provides a powerful solution to improving delivery of poorly soluble drugs to target tissues and organs.

Overall, the collaboration hopes to enhance efficacy, bioavailability, and safety of topical ocular therapies, bringing new ones to clinical practice.

“We are honored to work alongside Professor Liu and her distinguished team,” said Formosa President and CEO Erick Co. “Initial efforts have confirmed compatibility of APNT and SERI’s research models and prompt us to extend our partnership. SERI’s reputation for excellence in vision research, backed by their comprehensive capabilities and facilities, are unparalleled. Together, we are excited to translate the research findings into better clinical outcomes.”