18-month data of IOL-mounted drug delivery platform shows impressive results in IOP, visual acuity

Results showed a marked improvement in BCDVA and mean IOP across the cohort.

(Image credit: ©Roman—stock.adobe.com)

At this year’s American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting, SpyGlass Pharma presented data that show improvements in both visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) following 18 months of treatment for glaucoma or ocular hypertension with its intraocular lens (IOL)-mounted drug delivery platform. In the study, patients with visually significant cataract and glaucoma or ocular hypertension underwent cataract surgery and the IOL-based platform was implanted at the time of surgery. At 18 months, all patients were off all topical IOP-lowering medication and had achieved 20/30 or better best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA). This year’s ASCRS took place April 25-28, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

“In the US, 5 million cataract surgeries are performed annually, with 20% occurring in patients who also have increased intraocular pressure caused by open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Our compelling 18-month results highlight the potential long-term benefits of the SpyGlass Drug Delivery Platform for these patients,” Malik Kahook, MD, cofounder of SpyGlass Pharma, said in a press release. “The promising improvement in visual acuity, along with the clinically meaningful reduction in IOP, reinforce our confidence in the platform, and we look forward to sharing these data with the ophthalmic community at ASCRS.” 

First-in-human trial data

SpyGlass Pharma’s proprietary drug delivery platform consists of a single-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL with bimatoprost-eluting pads attached to the haptics. The lens is designed to deliver bimatoprost to targeted tissues for 3 years. The single-center, prospective cohort study followed 23 patients with significant cataracts alongside glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The drug delivery system was implanted at the time of cataract surgery.

Results showed a marked improvement in BCDVA and mean IOP across the cohort. BCDVA improved from 20/30-20/100 at baseline to 20/16-20/30 at 18 months. Mean IOP reduced significantly, from 25.1± 2.5 mm Hg at baseline post-washout to 14.1 ± 2.6 mm Hg at 18 months (P < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference in IOP reduction across the 3 dosage groups tested was reported; however, all patients were no longer taking topical IOP-lowering medications at 18 months. According to the press release, no product-related adverse events were observed in the study.

“We continue to see the SpyGlass Drug Delivery Platform poised to reimagine the treatment paradigm by addressing the unmet need of long-term drug delivery while also utilizing a familiar implantation technique for cataract surgeons,” Patrick Mooney, CEO, SpyGlass Pharma, said in a press release. “This promising dataset bolsters the potential for long-term durability of both visual outcomes and IOP-lowering efficacy. We look forward to providing further data updates from this ongoing study."

Previously, the 6-month data from the first-in-human trial were presented at Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum in 2023. The 18-month data were presented in a poster at ASCRS and the company plans to share longer-term data in the coming months as they continue to follow the patients enrolled in the first-in-human study.

Reference

SpyGlass Pharma presents 18-month data demonstrating compelling visual acuity results with their IOL-mounted innovative drug delivery platform. Press release. GlobeNewswire. Published April 24, 2025. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/24/3067371/0/en/SpyGlass-Pharma-Presents-18-Month-Data-Demonstrating-Compelling-Visual-Acuity-Results-with-Their-IOL-mounted-Innovative-Drug-Delivery-Platform.html