Melbourne company’s PolyActiva device may prove breakthrough in glaucoma treatment

A tiny biodegradable rod implanted in the eye may provide a breakthrough treatment for a leading cause of irreversible blindness.

A tiny biodegradable “rod” that is implanted in the eye is being developed by a Melbourne company as a revolutionary treatment for glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that affects about 300,000 Australians and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.

While eye drops can help manage the condition, research shows more than half of patients worldwide don’t use them correctly and this can accelerate loss of sight.

A small trial of the rod-shaped ocular implant, which included Victorian patients, showed it may be a safe substitute for daily eye drops.

More than 300,000 Australians have glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness.

Made by PolyActiva in Parkville, the technology was originally developed by CSIRO and the Bionics Institute in Melbourne.

The company’s CEO Vanessa Waddell said it had been developing the yet-to-be-named device for more than a decade.

She said a number of Australian ophthalmologists were also involved as they were keen to ensure patients received the right dose of daily drug treatment for glaucoma.

Ms Waddell said glaucoma does not have symptoms so many patients stop taking the eye drops, which are needed daily for life.

“This technology may be an alternative that can be a repeat dose for life,” she said.

PolyActiva chief executive Vanessa Waddell. Picture: Supplied

The transparent rod is 2mm x 2.5mm in circumference and made of a material that will rapidly biodegrade and, uniquely, the process can be repeated.

“We inject into the front of the eye the implant at the beginning of treatment and that implant delivers a daily dose of drug slowly for six months,” Ms Waddell said.

“Once the drug is depleted from the implant it biodegrades so it disappears and gets cleared out of the eye.

“What is important about this is our degradation profile ensures that the implant biodegrades rapidly and an ophthalmologist can then put another implant into the eye.”

While a similar ocular implant is available in the US, Ms Waddell says it is a one-off treatment and not a repeat dose.

She said pending the success of the clinical program that will see a larger phase 3 trial in Australia, New Zealand and the US next year, the goal is have the technology on the market by 2028.

But, Ms Waddell says, the company is at a crossroads as it needs a dedicated facility to manufacture it in Victoria. A single manufacturing site would cost about $7m.

“Developing Australian manufacturing capability is crucial to preventing Australia’s successful biotechnology companies from moving offshore.

Ms Waddell will present the clinical results of the trial at a conference in San Francisco on Thursday.