PolyActiva is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of ocular implants that provide controlled delivery of drugs to both the front and back of the eye. The company has two products under development, the first, Latanoprost FA SR Ocular Implant, is in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of open angle glaucoma. The second, Levofloxacin Ocular Implant is in early clinical development for the treatment and prevention of endophthalmitis (ocular infection) after ocular surgery.

PolyActiva’s platform technology is used to deliver drugs with precise control over the rate of drug delivery. The technology involves formation of a polymeric prodrug of the target drug. The polymeric prodrug is often the sole component used to produce the ocular implant. The technology enables product to be made with high dose loads, which means sufficient drug can be carried in products of a very small size and still deliver therapeutic daily doses to the target site over extended periods. The technology ensures true zero-order drug release over long periods (1 to 12-months), which ensures consistent dosing for the treatment period. The technology also provides separate control over the implant biodegradation and after biodegradation there is no residue. For example, in the case of the Latanoprost FA SR Ocular Implant the biodegradation occurs from weeks 26 to 32 of a 32-week treatment period. There is little or no loss of implant mass before week 26. PolyActiva’s delivery technology is also very well suited for site specific drug delivery to other sites of the body.

The process by which PolyActiva manufactures its ocular implants is robust and scalable. PolyActiva has built a number of products with drug candidates from different drug classes and with different linkage points, demonstrating the versatility of the technology.

PolyActiva is based in Melbourne, Australia, and has secured venture capital funding from Brandon Capital’s Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) and Yuuwa Capital.