# Ophthalmic drug delivery using a multi-layer contact lens design that enables targeting, constant-rate release and failure protection

> **NIH NIH R44** · LYNTHERA CORPORATION · 2020 · $168,912

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Parent award – Glaucoma is a major problem worldwide, with 60 million people currently affected and 112
million expected by 2040. At present, the primary treatment of glaucoma relies on medication administered as
topical eye drops, with prostaglandin analogues, as the first-line therapy, representing 51% of total prescriptions.
However, eye drops present significant limitations in bioavailability due to tear drainage, and a poor patient
adherence rate of 50% amongst those with a daily drop regimen. Second-line drops require even more frequent
dosing per day and hence worse adherence to the therapy is observed. We propose to develop a drug-delivering
contact lens (DDCL) with extended wear and sustained drug release of up to 7 days for the treatment of open-
angle glaucoma. The goal is to replace topical eye drops as the standard of care for glaucoma. Key advantages
of the DDCL will be lower dosing frequency, direct delivery to the corneal surface at a constant rate, high-
precision dosing and targeting, all by a cost-competitive lens device. The proposed Phase II work plan will focus
on refining prototypes of the DDCL (including drug release, materials, etc.), scaling up the production, and
demonstrating feasibility in animal model studies of tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The
proposed DDCL will not only resolve all the deficiencies of eye drop administration, but also could set a new
standard against other competing technologies of ocular bandages, injectable polymers, surgical implants, etc.
in the following categories: (a) The accurate control of drug release rate between first to zero order kinetics
throughout the delivery duration, (b) The precise dosing of bioavailable drug amount based on matching rates of
drug discharge, tear turnover and corneal adsorption, (c) The lens material innovation required for 7-day wearing
comfort, safety, easy of handling (by elderlies), and at a competitive cost. At the end of Phase II, final production-
scale prototypes with animal feasibility data (63 rabbits, toxicity/PK/PD) will be ready for subsequent IND-
enabling studies and IND filing for study in humans as proposed in an upcoming Phase IIb project.
Administrative supplement – This administrative supplement proposes $168,192 of incremental budget costs
to complete subaward animal research that was previously planned with a university (Temple), but due to timing,
personnel and other constraints has been moved to a CRO (Ora Inc.). The study design remains the same, with
the only changes being the subawardee, facility, and budget that will allow for timely completion of the work.
Updated IACUC approval and OLAW assurance have already been completed.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10078826
- **Project number:** 3R44EY026850-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** LYNTHERA CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Arthur Yang
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $168,912
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10078826

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10078826, Ophthalmic drug delivery using a multi-layer contact lens design that enables targeting, constant-rate release and failure protection (3R44EY026850-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10078826. Licensed CC0.

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