Products

Inson has decided to initially develop two drug delivery devices for the treatment of complications following cataract surgery.  Complications associated with surgery include infection, inflammation and Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO), sometimes referred to as “secondary cataracts”. The long term PCO complication appears when a cataract-like cell growth occurs on the rear surface of the newly inserted replacement intraocular lens (IOL).  The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that of the 37 million people who are currently blind, 20 million people worldwide are blind from bilateral cataracts.  Due to the aging population and the increasing incidences of diabetes and high blood pressure, these numbers are projected to increase by approximately 70% by the year 2020. The Inson Solution™ will initially consist of an antibiotic eluting “bead” (OcuLox™) made of similar materials to existing contact lenses which has been modified to deliver its medication over 14-21 days.  The follow-on anti-inflammatory/anti-PCO bead (OcuXin™) will address the other half of the equation (inflammation associated with the surgery itself + secondary cataracts occur in 100% of dogs and up to 50% of humans undergoing cataract replacement surgery).  OcuXin™ beads will deliver an anti-inflammatory drug over the course of 30-45 days.  The beads are designed to fit over the Haptic (monofilament “arm” attached to an IOL which is used for lens placement).  Inson’s short-term business strategy is to initially focus on the veterinary cataract IOL marketplace in the US, Canada and Europe as part of its path to the human market.  Human clinical trials in China will follow, and revenue generated from the Chinese market, together with licensing agreements, will fund further development in the US and India.  The initial veterinary target market will be the approximately 80,000 canine IOL replacements performed each year in the U.S. and Canada with roughly the same number of procedures completed in Europe and Japan combined.

Inson’s haptic beads are manufactured using our patented rate-limiting barrier coating. Through slight modifications in design this highly versatile coating can be used to create or modify a device for either tunable constant drug release or ultrasound activated drug release as described below. In addition to these current stand-alone products. Inson can utilize this patented rate-limiting coating technology to create new or modify existing devices for controlled-drug release for tunable delivery times and dosages. Inson is always open to new partnerships. Interested parties should contact Inson at info@insonmed.com

Inson's Coating Technology

Originating from the University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials group, Inson’s innovative “rate-limiting barrier” technology that can be grown onto the surface of virtually all types of approved polymeric biomaterials. This novel self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating can perform one of two actions depending on changes in growth conditions and material types. With one SAM formulation, the barrier can be utilized as a rate-limiting barrier capable of delivering a constant dosage of medication (from 24 hours to 45 days). This is more commonly known as zero-order release (ZOR) kinetics and has not been achieved previously in a simple polymeric controlled release device (see Figure 1A). A more stringent formulation completely blocks all drug release until an external stimulus is applied via ultrasound (see Figure 1B). Once the stimulus is removed, the barrier reassembles and ‘heals’ itself shutting off the flow of drug. This application allows Inson to administer medications on-demand in a manner that is secure.

ZOR Applications

As ZOR kinetics yield a constant dosage of medication over time, they are useful in the delivery of small molecules as well as the newer, protein-based medicines.  In a  low-density form, these coatings create a rate-limiting ‘sieve’ that accurately controls the rate of drug release. Areas of business development remain in areas of:

Solid Tumors
Diabetes
Pain Management
Additional Ocular Diseases

SODR Applications

To-date, Inson has tested the SODR device with the release of a broad stream antibiotic for the prevention of biofilms (large bacterial colonies) in conjunction with the University of Washington [Norris et al., 2005]. Current development plans are underway for additional on-demand release applications in the areas of:

Diabetes
Obesity
Pain Management
Cancer Treatment

Publications

Garty, S.; Shirakawa, R.; Warson, A.; Noble, M.; Bryers, J.D.; Ranter, B.D. JBMR 2008, In Preparation.

Kwok, C.S.; Mourad, P.D.; Crum, L.A.; Ratner, B.D. JBMR 2001, 57, 151-164.

Kwok, C.S.; Mourad, P.D.; Crum, L.A.; Ratner, B.D. Biomacromol 2000, 1, 139-148.

Kwok, C.S.; Horbett, T.A..; Ratner, B.D. J Control Release 1999b, 6, 301-311.

Norris, P.; Noble, M.;Francolini, I.; Vinogradov, A.; Stewart, P.;Ratner, B.D.; Costerton, J.W.; Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005, 49, 4272-9.


A representative three-piece IOL is shown with Inson's haptic beads (dyed red for visibility) loaded onto the IOL's haptic arms (blue wires).

Left A depiction of drug molecules (orange balls) escaping using zero-order release (ZOR) kinetics from a loosely-assembled barrier coating.

Right Ultrasound waves (depicted in red) disrupting the well-ordered barrier chains and allowing the drug to escape.