EyeDura Therapeutics Wins Top Industry Honors as Its Sustained-Release Eye Drop Technology Gains Momentum in Ophthalmology Innovation
EyeDura Therapeutics Inc., a trailblazing developer of preservative-free, sustained-release ophthalmic therapies, has garnered prominent recognition across two of the ophthalmology industry’s most respected innovation showcases. The company was honored with top prizes at both the SightLine Winning Pitch Challenge held during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) conference and the Octane Ophthalmology Technology Forum, where it received both the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards. These dual accolades underscore the promise of EyeDura’s technology to transform the landscape of ocular drug delivery.
At the heart of EyeDura’s innovation is its Topical Sustained Release (TSR) platform, a next-generation approach to eye drop formulation that directly addresses two persistent and widely recognized barriers in ophthalmic treatment—suboptimal patient adherence and the high economic burden of chronic eye diseases. The TSR platform introduces a new paradigm in drug delivery, offering a non-invasive, preservative-free alternative that could significantly improve patient experience while delivering long-acting therapeutic benefits.
“We are honored to receive recognition from both expert panels and our industry peers,” said Srini Venkatesh, Chief Executive Officer of EyeDura. “Winning at two highly competitive industry forums in the same year reflects the strength of our technology and validates the impact we believe our platform will have in improving outcomes for patients suffering from debilitating eye diseases. As we prepare for our IND submission for our lead candidate EYED-002 in neurotrophic keratitis, this momentum is especially meaningful.”
Reinventing Eye Drop Therapy with Weekly Dosing
The cornerstone of EyeDura’s technological leap lies in its lipid-based, high-viscosity eye drop formulation. This proprietary platform is engineered to integrate seamlessly into the tear film’s natural lipid layer, creating a stable depot for sustained drug release. Upon administration, blinking action removes only the aqueous layer of the tear film, leaving the therapeutic formulation behind. This design allows the medication to remain active on the ocular surface for seven days or more after a single drop—drastically reducing dosing frequency compared to traditional eye drops that may require several applications each day.
The benefits are twofold. First, it enhances patient compliance, which has historically been a weak point in ophthalmic care, with adherence rates hovering around 60% for chronic eye conditions due to complex regimens and discomfort from preservatives. Second, it contributes to cost efficiency by potentially decreasing the number of required doses and reducing the need for repeat office visits or adjunctive treatments.
“Frequent daily dosing regimens are not only burdensome for patients, especially the elderly, but they also lead to inconsistent therapeutic outcomes and higher healthcare utilization,” noted Venkatesh. “Our sustained-release platform offers a convenient and effective alternative that could set a new standard for eye care.”
A Platform Poised for Multiple Indications
EyeDura’s most advanced program, EYED-002, is focused on neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a rare and progressive degenerative corneal disease. Affecting an estimated 71,000 patients in the United States, NK results from impaired corneal innervation and can lead to persistent epithelial defects, corneal ulceration, and vision loss if left untreated.
Currently available treatment options for NK are limited, both in number and accessibility. Topical therapies often require rigorous application schedules and careful monitoring, placing a substantial burden on patients and caregivers. In contrast, EyeDura’s TSR platform may offer a simple, twice-weekly treatment schedule, greatly reducing the management complexity.
In a recent proof-of-concept clinical study, the company tested the sustained-release delivery of insulin—a known regenerative agent—using its platform in a cohort of 10 patients with NK. All participants achieved complete healing of their epithelial defects within a four-week treatment period, requiring only two drops per week. These encouraging results demonstrate not only the effectiveness of the formulation but also its potential to improve patient quality of life through dramatically simplified dosing.
“Achieving full epithelial healing with just two weekly doses is a powerful proof point,” said Dr. William Link, Chairman of the Board at EyeDura and a prominent figure in ophthalmic innovation. “It speaks to the transformative potential of this delivery system—not just for NK, but for a wide range of ocular diseases that demand sustained and localized drug exposure.”
Expanding the Therapeutic Footprint
While EYED-002 remains the company’s lead asset, EyeDura’s ambitions extend far beyond a single indication. The TSR platform has shown early proof-of-concept results across multiple ocular conditions, including dry eye disease and posterior segment disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy.
In preclinical evaluations, the platform has demonstrated successful delivery of both small molecules and biologics, including axitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with applications in retinal diseases, and insulin, suggesting the system’s versatility in supporting neuroprotective therapies and vascular-targeting agents. Notably, EyeDura’s platform achieves this without the need for intravitreal injections, offering a non-invasive alternative that could greatly improve the patient journey in chronic retinal disease management.
“Our technology is designed to be disease-agnostic in many ways,” Venkatesh added. “The formulation can be adapted for anterior and posterior segment targets, making it a highly flexible delivery platform. We’re excited by the range of possibilities it opens up for new therapeutic partnerships and expanded clinical applications.”
Industry Endorsements and Strategic Momentum
The recognition EyeDura received at the SightLine Winning Pitch Challenge and Octane Ophthalmology Technology Forum reflects not only the scientific strength of the platform but also its commercial viability. The dual wins—both Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice at the Octane event—suggest broad-based support across clinical, business, and investor audiences, an important factor as the company prepares for the next stage of its growth.
“These awards are particularly meaningful because they represent two distinct types of endorsement: one from technical and clinical experts, and the other from industry peers and potential collaborators,” said Link. “That convergence of support underscores that we’re on the right path.”
To further accelerate its development, EyeDura is actively seeking strategic partnerships with ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies interested in integrating sustained-release delivery into existing and emerging pipelines. Such collaborations could support both life cycle management of legacy drugs and the development of new treatment paradigms.
The company is also preparing for a Series A fundraising round in 2026, targeting $25 million to advance EYED-002 through its next phase of development and to continue building out its therapeutic pipeline.
A Patient-Centered Vision
At its core, EyeDura’s mission is deeply rooted in patient-centric innovation. The company’s leadership believes that ophthalmic therapeutics should align with how patients live—not the other way around.
“Patients shouldn’t have to suffer through complex regimens or invasive procedures just to maintain their vision,” said Link. “Our goal is to make advanced therapy delivery as effortless as possible, and the sustained-release model helps achieve exactly that. We want to eliminate barriers and provide consistent therapeutic coverage in a way that fits naturally into a patient’s routine.”
With its award-winning technology platform, an experienced leadership team, and a growing body of clinical validation, EyeDura Therapeutics is well-positioned to reshape how eye diseases are treated. Its TSR platform holds promise not just to improve therapeutic outcomes, but to reimagine what’s possible in drug delivery innovation—one drop at a time.
