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Drug-eluting contact lenses (CLs) are a transparent corneal dressing,serving as a drug reservoir and maintaining drug release near the lens, primarily used for treating anterior segment diseases. Drug-loaded contact lenses are an innovative ocular drug delivery system. Compared to traditional eye drops, CLs not only extend and maintain drug release but also enhance the drug’s ability to penetrate the corneal epithelium, increasing the drug’s bioavailability by prolonging contact time.
Recently, one of the major players in the 3D printed lens field, MediPrint Ophthalmics, announced positive results from its Phase 2 clinical trial of the 3D printed drug-eluting contact lens LL-BMT1.
LL-BMT1 is not an ordinary eye drop but a drug-releasing contact lens made using 3D printing technology. This innovative device continuously releases glaucoma treatment drugs—bimatoprost and hyaluronic acid, serving as an innovative solution for treating mild to moderate glaucoma while improving the comfort of contact lens wearers by reducing dry eye symptoms.
Studies show that patients using this contact lens reporta comfort increase of about 38%,with a 40% reduction in dry eye symptoms. Patients no longer need to use eye drops daily,with treatment frequency reduced by 86%, effectively improving glaucoma treatment adherence and enhancing the comfort experience of wearing contact lenses.
Ian Ben Gaddie stated, “LL-BMT1 represents a significant potential advancement in glaucoma care, providing an effective, less burdensome alternative to daily eye drops and a less invasive option compared to laser or surgical methods. These results are indeed encouraging for patients and doctors seeking better treatment options.”# Trial Results
- Treatment Effect: Research indicates that the 32µg dose of LL-BMT1 is comparable to 0.01% bimatoprost eye drops in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP).
- Significantly Reduced Treatment Frequency: Patients using LL-BMT1 only need to wear it 6 times over 3 weeks, representing an 86% reduction in treatment frequency compared to traditional daily eye drops.
- Improved Patient Adherence: The significant reduction in dosing frequency highlights LL-BMT1’s potential in improving patient adherence and glaucoma management outcomes.
- Enhanced Comfort: LL-BMT1 lenses contain hyaluronic acid, providing sustained comfort and significantly improving patients’ dry eye symptoms. Studies show that comfort increased by 38% after wearing the lenses, with a 40% reduction in dry eye symptoms, indicating that LL-BMT1 may support weekly and long-term wear.
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Safety and Tolerability: Safety data from the Phase 2 study show that the preservative-free LL-BMT1 lenses were safe and well-tolerated among all participants, with no serious adverse events reported.
Based on these results, MediPrint plans to advance two projects in 2025..
One is to use hyaluronic acid (HA) to improve comfort in the daily disposable lens market; the second is to initiate Phase 3 clinical studies of LL-BMT1 for glaucoma treatment. LL-BMT1, as a novel 3D printed drug-eluting contact lens, offers an effective, convenient, preservative-free method that is expected to replace traditional eye drop treatments for glaucoma, thereby improving patient adherence and treatment outcomes.# The First Drug-Eluting Contact Lens Currently in trials, contact lenses have been able to accommodate and release various types of drugs, including antibiotics, steroids, immunosuppressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. The application of this drug delivery technology not only includes short-term care after ophthalmic surgery but can also be used for treating chronic ocular diseases such as glaucoma and dry eye. In March 2022, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care announced that its drug-eluting contact lens ACUVUE Theravision has received FDA approval, with each lens containing 19µg of the antihistamine ketotifen. Ketotifen is commonly used in its fumarate form as an anti-allergic drug, characterized by strong H1 receptor antagonism and inhibition of the release of allergic mediators. Ketotifen eye drops can suppress allergies and treat allergic conjunctivitis. ACUVUE Theravision is the world’s first and currently the only contact lens that can simultaneously correct vision and relieve allergic eye itching, providing a new wearing experience for contact lens wearers with allergic eye itching.
Data shows that about 40% of contact lens wearers suffer from conjunctivitis. Although rubbing the eyes can be avoided while wearing lenses, using certain medicated eye drops can also interfere with the vision correction provided by contact lenses, leading wearers to abandon contact lenses during allergy seasons. The ketotifen-containing ACUVUE Theravision is a daily disposable contact lens suitable for preventing itching caused by allergic conjunctivitis and provides vision correction for patients without red eyes, suitable for contact lens wearers with astigmatism not exceeding 1.00D. Phase 3 clinical studies show that symptoms of itching caused by allergic conjunctivitis significantly decrease clinically and statistically within 3 minutes of wearing ACUVUE Theravision lenses, and the effect can last for 12 hours.# About MediPrint Ophthalmics
MediPrint Ophthalmics is a clinical-stage eye care company based in San Diego, USA, focused on developing proprietary ophthalmic drug delivery products for treating diseases such as glaucoma, dry eye, and ocular allergies. The company’s mission is to develop, clinically test, and commercialize drug-eluting, comfort-enhancing contact lenses through its patented MediPrint™ process, successfully delivering ocular drugs in a non-invasive manner, changing the standard of care for ocular medications.
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