On the 8th, Formosa Pharmaceuticals announced that it will continue its partnership with U.S.-based Eyenovia to develop a new drug aimed at alleviating acute symptoms of dry eye syndrome. This collaboration will combine Formosa Pharmaceuticals' proprietary drug, APP13007 (clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05%), with Eyenovia's Optejet® eye spray delivery technology.

APP13007, which is based on the ultra-potent steroid clobetasol propionate, was approved by the U.S. FDA on March 4th this year for the treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery. The drug targets a market with approximately 7 million ophthalmic surgeries annually in the U.S.

Formosa Pharmaceuticals stated that expanding APP13007’s indication to include acute dry eye syndrome could provide millions of U.S. patients suffering from dry eye syndrome with an effective treatment for their acute flare-ups. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, around 80% of dry eye patients experience episodes of acute symptom exacerbation. Additionally, IQVIA data indicates that around 2 million Americans use prescription medications to treat dry eye syndrome.

APP13007 is the first product developed using Formosa Pharmaceuticals’ proprietary APNT (Advanced Particle Nanoparticle Technology) platform. This platform reduces the particle size of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and ensures high uniformity and purity of the drug’s nanoparticles, which enhances drug penetration into the eye and significantly improves bioavailability.

Erick Co, CEO of Formosa Pharmaceuticals, stated, "We are eager to take the next step in our partnership with Eyenovia. We have already proven that our technologies are compatible, and applying the APNT nanoparticle formulation to an advanced delivery system like Optejet® represents a significant opportunity for both companies."

Michael Rowe, CEO of Eyenovia, expressed that the unique properties of clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension make it well-suited for the treatment of dry eye syndrome. The drug effectively reduces ocular pain and inflammation with a low incidence of adverse events, and it holds great promise for providing relief to millions of patients experiencing periodic acute dry eye symptoms. The Eyenovia team looks forward to advancing this project with Formosa Pharmaceuticals and ultimately integrating the treatment into their Optejet® eye spray delivery technology.

Resource (mandarin): 台新藥再度與Eyenovia合作 開發緩減乾眼症急性症狀新藥