1. Medtech Insight
  2. >>Device Area
  3. >>Ophthalmology

Market Intel: Eye On The Prize: Drug Delivery Advances To Fuel Ophthalmic Drug Market

 
• By Bob Kronemyer

The global market for ophthalmic drugs is expected to hit $30.5bn by 2020, fueled in part by the rise in age-related eye conditions like glaucoma, dry eye and macular degeneration. However, there is still an unmet demand for technologies that can deliver these drugs effectively and over a sustained period. This article discusses what the challenges are to developing effective ocular drug delivery systems and highlights several innovative technologies in the pipeline, designed to overcome the limitations of current ophthalmic therapies and potentially accelerate growth of the market.

Eye
Innovations in ocular drug delivery systems can help boost ophthalmic drugs market

After decades of research, there are only a handful of approved ocular drug delivery systems in the US at present, all of them to treat disorders of the back of the eye such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, uveitis, wet age-related macular edema (AMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME). Front-of-the eye drug delivery systems to treat conditions like glaucoma – one of the biggest cause of blindness – are still not available on the market, although several candidates are currently in clinical trials.

“There has been lots of work in creating these various drug delivery systems, but not much regulatory success, in my opinion,” said Gary Novack, founder and president of San Rafael,...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Ophthalmology

Consumer Healthtech Investment Totaled $4.5BN In 2024, But Bar Is High Amid Economic Uncertainty

 
• By Marion Webb

Global investment in consumer healthtech increased by 9% year-over-year in 2024, totaling $4.5bn, with significant interest in mental health solutions, according to Galen Growth. While the first quarter of 2025 saw raised confidence and investments, the Trump administration’s new tariffs and sweeping changes to healthcare have introduced new uncertainties.

Barcelona’s S2 Xpeed Accelerates Hardware-Based Medtech Start-Ups From Prototype To Market

 
• By Marion Webb

Barcelona-based accelerator S2 Xpeed is driving the rapid growth of medtech and hardware start-ups in Europe. Operating under a "sweat equity" model, the program helps early-stage companies move from prototype to manufacturing readiness in exchange for equity. This month, the accelerator will add a fourth cohort of 10 more start-ups, five of which are in the medtech space.

Seonix Bio’s Newly Launched Saliva-Based Genetic Test Aims To Shed Light On Glaucoma Risk Assessment

 
• By Marion Webb

Seonix launched SightScore, the first clinical polygenic risk score test for glaucoma available in the US, and plans to introduce more genetic-based tests for eye conditions such as macular degeneration.

FDA Releases Six More De Novo Summaries

 
• By Elizabeth Orr

The US FDA released six more device classifications in early September, including products from Edwards, Interscope, and Baxter Healthcare.

More from Device Area

Medtronic To Spin Out Diabetes Unit As New Products Solidify Turn-Around Story

 
• By Shubham Singh

Medtronic’s diabetes spin-out – a process likely to run up to 18 months and involve 20% IPO followed by a split-off for Medtronic shareholders – will allow firm to focus on higher-margin devices.

Pathogen Sharing System Part Of Global Pandemic Agreement

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Now that the landmark Pandemic Agreement has finally been adopted, work will start on drafting a pathogen access and benefit sharing system that will be voluntary for use by drug companies.

TRiCares Tricuspid Valve Replacement System Reduces Regurgitation In First-In-Human Study

 
• By Natasha Barrow

TRiCares presented data from the first-in-human study for its tricuspid valve replacement system – Topaz – at EuroPCR 2025 on 22 May.