Avedro and EyeGate Pharma Enter Agreement for Corneal Cross-linking IP

Avedro to hold exclusive license to broad iontophoresis patent portfolio

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avedro, Inc. and EyeGate Pharma announce today that Avedro will hold the exclusive license to EyeGate Pharma’s iontophoresis patents in the field of corneal collagen cross-linking.

“This relationship paves the way to explore further process enhancements, especially riboflavin delivery. Iontophoresis of riboflavin with the EyeGate Delivery System could further shorten overall treatment times. We look forward to working together with Avedro on this exciting endeavor.”

When cross-linking is used to treat degenerative keratoconus or post-LASIK ectasia, the corneal epithelium is commonly removed to allow riboflavin to penetrate into the cornea. Removal of the epithelium causes patient discomfort for up to 24 hours and a transient reduction in vision as the epithelium regrows. EyeGate Pharma’s iontophoresis is one approach that has the potential to deliver riboflavin into the cornea without the need to remove the epithelium.

“Avedro is pleased to have an exclusive license to the use of EyeGate Pharma’s iontophoresis patents. This license allows Avedro the rights to pursue any use of EyeGate’s systems in the field of corneal collagen cross-linking. Iontophoresis is a delivery approach, among others, that we intend to investigate to determine if it may offer any additional benefits to the excellent clinical results we have achieved with ParaCel™, our current transepithelial cross-linking formulation,” said David Muller, PhD, CEO of Avedro. He continued, “This will add to our current patent portfolio which we intend to vigorously enforce against any infringing companies around the world.”

“We recognize the importance of cross-linking in vision care,” said Stephen From of EyeGate Pharma. “This relationship paves the way to explore further process enhancements, especially riboflavin delivery. Iontophoresis of riboflavin with the EyeGate Delivery System could further shorten overall treatment times. We look forward to working together with Avedro on this exciting endeavor.”

About Avedro, Inc.

Avedro is a privately held medical device and pharmaceutical company advancing the science and technology of corneal cross-linking. The Company’s advanced cross-linking technology makes the treatment of keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia safer, faster, and more comfortable, while also making possible an entirely new cross-linking procedure, Lasik Xtra®, which restores the cornea’s biomechanical integrity following the creation of the LASIK flap and/or excimer laser ablation during LASIK or PRK. More than 50,000 eyes around the world have been treated with Avedro’s KXL ® System for Accelerated Cross-linking. Outside the US, Avedro has obtained CE Mark for its KXL System and its family of riboflavin products. Avedro’s products are not for sale in the US.

About EyeGate Pharma

EyeGate Pharma is a privately held, specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the safety and efficacy of drug delivery to the eye for the treatment of a wide range of ophthalmic diseases. Its proprietary EyeGate^® II Delivery System, designed to achieve optimal therapeutic levels of drug in the anterior and posterior segments, doses substantially more drug more quickly, which can accelerate the onset of action, limit safety risks, and improve patient compliance and throughput.