US-based biotechnology firm BioTime has entered into a sublicense agreement with Jade Therapeutics, a developer of ophthalmic sustained-release drug delivery platforms, for ophthalmic drug delivery applications of BioTime's HyStem technology.
The new agreement expands the licensed 'Field of Use' to include certain additional uses, such as the use of BioTime's HyStem hydrogel technology for the delivery of all potential therapeutic molecules to the human eye.
BioTime's HyStem hydrogels are proprietary biocompatible hydrogels which could be used to deliver localized doses of small molecules, proteins or cells.
The HyStem technology delivers cells with or without any molecules necessary for the therapeutic benefit, for use in making punctal plugs, for diagnostic and research reagents, and for non-human applications.
According to Jade, lead products in pre-clinical development utilize the licensed hydrogel technology to facilitate time-release, topical delivery of recombinant human growth hormone to help heal lesions on the ocular surface, as well as enable local delivery of antibiotics to treat ocular infections.
BioTime chief commercial officer William Tew said, "We are pleased to have expanded our relationship with Jade Therapeutics and look forward to their efforts to develop novel ophthalmic drug delivery applications for our HyStem hydrogel platform."
Jade CEO Arthur Klausner said, "We have evaluated a variety of potential polymer-based drug delivery systems, and we believe that HyStem hydrogels provide an excellent combination of the required physical properties to enable broad ocular use."
