Grifols, a global healthcare leader specializing in plasma-derived medicines, has entered into a partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to investigate the potential of its ocular surface immunoglobulin (OSIG) eye drops in treating ocular damage caused by sulfur mustard exposure. BARDA, an entity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is collaborating with Grifols on this preclinical initiative.
If successful, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could approve OSIG as one of the first treatments targeting the long-term effects of sulfur mustard-induced ocular injuries. Sulfur mustard, commonly known as mustard gas, is a chemical warfare agent that reacts quickly with ocular tissues, leading to severe conditions such as photophobia, pain, and mustard gas keratopathy—an eye injury that can result in blindness.
Grifols aims to repurpose its OSIG eye drops, initially developed for dry eye disease (DED), for the treatment of sulfur mustard exposure. The ongoing nonclinical studies, conducted with BARDA’s support, are evaluating the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of OSIG to determine its effectiveness in mitigating the long-term damage from mustard gas exposure.
A key area of research focuses on how OSIG’s anti-inflammatory properties might prevent the immune system from mistakenly attacking modified proteins—self-antigens—following sulfur mustard exposure. This immune response can further damage ocular tissues, and by neutralizing the reaction, OSIG could help preserve vision and aid recovery in affected individuals.
The investigational treatment is expected to enter clinical trials in the first half of 2025.
“Grifols is applying its expertise in immunoglobulins—a powerful class of medicines with unique mechanisms of action—to develop safe, effective, and readily available IG-based treatments that alleviate conditions affecting vision and quality of life,” said Joerg Schuettrumpf, Grifols’ Chief Scientific Innovation Officer. “Our focus remains on building an innovation pipeline aimed at providing better treatments for patients.”
This partnership follows Grifols’ subsidiary GigaGen’s recent $135 million contract with BARDA to develop recombinant polyclonal antibody therapies for biothreats, including botulinum neurotoxins.
The project is funded by federal contributions from HHS, ASPR, and BARDA under contract number 75A50124C00050.
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