Iontophoretic contact lens technology receives new patent
EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued the Company a patent covering the utility of its iontophoretic contact lens. The U.S. patent entitled “Iontophoretic Contact Lens” was issued on the 10th April, 2018. “The issuance of this new patent represents a significant milestone in the development of our proprietary iontophoretic contact lens,” said Stephen From, President and Chief Executive Officer of EyeGate.
“We believe that this technology, which could enable at-home administration of iontophoretic drugs, has the potential to significantly influence the future of ocular drug delivery by eliminating the need for intravitreal injections and reducing the number of doctor visits. We believe that the iontophoretic contact lens is particularly well-suited for the treatment of chronic retinal conditions, and have selected macular edema, which we believe is a large and underserved market, as our initial target indication.”
This is the first issued patent covering the iontophoretic contact lens. The patent relates to a multi-layer contact lens for ocular therapy, comprising a reservoir adapted to contain an electrically-charged therapeutic compound and an electrode providing iontophoretic current to the charged compound to propel it into the ocular tissue. The iontophoretic contact lens provides an easy, potentially improved technique for delivery of therapeutics to the retina.