The SCYNEXIS cyclophilin inhibitor technology has discovered new cytokine inhibitors, based on cyclosporine A, with greatly improved aqueous solubility. The first compound to emerge from this technology, SCY-641, is being developed as a new treatment for ocular inflammatory conditions such as Dry Eye disease. SCY-641 can be formulated in simple water based vehicles and was shown to be well tolerated on repeat ocular administration to animals. Ocular distribution and pharmacokinetic data from rabbit studies provide support for an improved dosing schedule (once per day) compared to current treatment options. SCY-641 is currently being evaluated for efficacy in spontaneously occurring canine keratoconjunctivitis as a prelude to initiation of IND-enabling studies.
About Dry Eye and Therapeutic Need
Dry eye occurs when the body’s tears are unable to provide adequate moisture for the eyes. This can result in a number of symptoms including but not limited to stinging or burning of the eyes, mucus in or around the eyes, increased irritation from external factors like smoke or wind, eye fatigue and blurred vision. There is significant room for improvement for more effective and better tolerated products. The development of a therapeutic that could be administered as a water soluble eye drop could be a significant advancement in the treatment of dry eye.