BUSINESS WIRE
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--arGentis Pharmaceuticals, LLC
announced today that the company has licensed a third treatment for Dry
Eye Syndrome (DES) now designated ARG103. This is a continuance of the
licensing partnership arGentis has with the Southern College of
Optometry (SCO) and becomes the third prospective therapy for DES that
utilizes the transdermal delivery of an active pharmaceutical ingredient
to affected glands via application of a cream or gel to the outer, upper
and lower eyelids.
Developed by Charles Connor, Ph.D., O.D., FAAO, Professor and Director
of Research at SCO, ARG103 incorporates a combination of the hormones
testosterone and progesterone. A very high percentage of menopausal
women respond to ARG101, a testosterone-based transdermal treatment
designed for menopausal women who suffer from DES due to waning androgen
levels. By combining progesterone with testosterone in ARG103, a larger
number of post-menopausal women may respond to treatment. Dr. Connor
stated, “One of the key problems with dry eye
is inflammation of the surface of the eye. Progesterone provides extra
anti-inflammatory power when added to testosterone for dry eye treatment
and may even enhance meibomian gland secretion. This treatment addresses
two crucial issues in dry eye patients.”
ARG103 will broaden the reach of arGentis’
transdermal ocular technology, which includes ARG101 for use in
menopausal women and ARG102, a progesterone-based formulation that
treats DES in younger women and men. The company will target the 40 to
60 million dry eye sufferers in the U.S. and over 100 million people
worldwide with the three treatments.
“ARG103 strengthens our business and allows
arGentis to offer effective treatment options using the novel
transdermal delivery method to a larger patient population,”
said Tom Davis, CEO of arGentis Pharmaceuticals. “We
are very pleased with the research being conducted by SCO and look
forward to ushering these treatments into clinical testing this year.”
About Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry Eye Syndrome (DES), also known as keratoconjunctivitas sicca (KCS),
is the most prevalent non-refractive ophthalmological disorder. It is
caused by a lack of tear quality, or lack of tear quantity, adequate
tear production without the necessary glandular functionality to
maintain them. DES affects as many as 40-60 million people in the U.S.
and 100 million in the developed world.
About arGentis
arGentis
Pharmaceuticals, LLC is a specialty pharmaceutical company located
in Memphis, TN. The company seeks to in-license therapies for chronic
diseases with demonstrated proof of concept for further development and
commercialization. The company has three drug formulations in
development for the treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome. In addition, arGentis
has licensed a treatment for Systemic Sclerosis which has successfully
completed a Phase II clinical trial and received Orphan Drug Designation
from the FDA.
About Southern College of Optometry
Established in Memphis, Tennessee in 1932, Southern
College of Optometry is an independent, not-for-profit institution
of higher education with a mission to educate men and women in the art
and science of optometry. An SCO faculty member since 1988, Dr. Charles
Connor, Director of Research Programs, earned his PhD in Cell Biology
from Temple University and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the
University of Houston.