Sustained-released platform has the potential to deliver therapeutic levels for seven days and beyond, addressing key treatment challenges in eye care

EyeDura Therapeutics Inc. (www.eyedura.com), a developer of preservative-free sustained release ophthalmic therapies, announced that it received top recognition at two major industry forums among a field of innovative ophthalmic startup companies. EyeDura won The Winning Pitch challenge at SightLine during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) conference and earned both the Judge’s Choice and People's Choice awards at the Octane Ophthalmology Technology Forum.

EyeDura's Topical Sustained Release technology is designed to address two significant challenges in ophthalmic care, which are suboptimal patient compliance and high treatment cost. Conventional eye drop treatments often require multiple daily doses, contributing to compliance rates as low as 60 percent and increasing healthcare expenses. The EyeDura platform utilizes a lipid-based, high-viscosity formulation that integrates into the tear film's lipid layer. During blinking, the aqueous layer is selectively removed while the lipid layer and medication remain, creating a stable depot that delivers therapeutic levels for seven days or longer from a single drop.

"These awards reflect the strength of our platform technology and the progress of our development efforts," said Srini Venkatesh, CEO of EyeDura. "The endorsement from both expert judges and industry peers reinforces that we're addressing pressing challenges in ophthalmic drug delivery, especially as we advance our lead program, EYED-002 for neurotrophic keratitis, toward IND submission in Q3 2026."

Neurotrophic keratitis is a rare but serious ocular disease affecting approximately 71,000 diagnosed patients in the U.S. Current treatments are limited in availability and difficult to administer, creating significant patient burden. In a recent preliminary study, EyeDura demonstrated complete healing of epithelial defects in all 10 patients enrolled in the study using insulin delivered via the platform — requiring only two drops per week over a four-week period.

"Our experienced team has developed a platform that represents a true breakthrough in ocular drug delivery," said William Link, chairman of EyeDura's Board of Directors. "This technology doesn't just improve dosing convenience. It has the potential to reduce the healthcare burden by improving patient compliance and enabling better therapeutic outcomes. Our guiding philosophy is that patients shouldn't have to suffer, and advanced therapeutics should integrate seamlessly into their lives."

In addition to neurotrophic keratitis, EyeDura’s platform has shown promise across other anterior and posterior ophthalmic applications. The company has demonstrated proof-of-concept for dry eye disease and has successfully delivered insulin and axitinib to treat posterior eye tissues, pointing to future applications for neuroprotection and age-related macular degeneration.

EyeDura is pursuing strategic collaborations with ophthalmic pharmaceutical partners interested in leveraging the platform for pipeline products and life cycle management. The company is also preparing for a $25 million Series A fundraise in 2026 to support advancement of its lead neurotrophic keratitis program.

About EyeDura

EyeDura Therapeutics Inc. (www.eyedura.com) is a seed-funded ophthalmic pharmaceutical company developing preservative-free topical sustained-release eye drops that target both anterior and posterior segment diseases. Cofounded by Dr. John Vukich and Dr. Kevin Waltz, the company developed its Topical Sustained Release technology to deliver therapeutic levels of active pharmaceutical ingredients for seven days or longer from a single dose. The platform is compatible with most active pharmaceutical ingredients currently used in ophthalmic products, including both small molecules and biologics. EyeDura's lead program, EYED-002, is developing insulin for neurotrophic keratitis, with IND submission planned for Q3 2026. The technology is protected by a global patent portfolio through 2044, with coverage across the U.S., Europe, China, Japan, and other key markets.

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