Raytone Biotech, a biotech company that focuses on creating new treatments for eye diseases, has shared that the first patient was given the treatment RTP-008 in its clinical trial. This happened during the second quarter of 2025 and is a big step forward for the company in developing new ways to treat dry eye disease. RTP-008 is a special plug made from a material that the body can break down over time. It contains tacrolimus, a medicine used to reduce inflammation. This treatment is meant for people who have moderate to severe dry eye disease. The treatment was given at Beijing Tongren Hospital, which is part of Capital Medical University and is known for its work in eye health in China.
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The trial was led by Professor Ying Jie, who is the head of the hospital’s Ophthalmology Center, and supported by Professor Lei Tian, who is the deputy director. The first person in the study had moderate to severe dry eye disease and did not experience serious side effects after receiving the treatment. The research team said the procedure went smoothly, which is a good sign for the clinical trial.
Dry eye disease is a complicated and long-term issue that affects the surface of the eye. It happens when there is a problem with the tear film, which is the layer of liquid that covers the eye. This problem can be due to inflammation, not enough tears, or tears evaporating too quickly. These issues can cause problems like eye irritation, discomfort, blurry vision, and damage to the eye’s surface. To manage this condition effectively, it’s important to balance the tear film, and this usually needs to be done in a way that is tailored to each patient’s specific cause. Whether the main problem is not enough tears or too much evaporation affects what kind of treatment is best.
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Treating dry eye disease is difficult for doctors because it has many different causes. A treatment that works for one person may not work for another. People with moderate to severe symptoms often need more than one type of treatment to get real relief. These can include both physical and medical treatments. Physical methods, like blocking tear drainage, help keep the eyes moist. Medications like artificial tears or anti-inflammatory drops can offer short-term relief. However, many people use several products multiple times a day, which can be hard to manage and lead to poor adherence to the treatment plan. This can cause treatment to be incomplete and symptoms to keep coming back.
To help patients break this cycle, there is a growing need for treatments that not only relieve symptoms but also fix the underlying causes of dry eye. These treatments should be effective but also easy for patients to use regularly. Raytone Biotech hopes to meet this need with RTP-008. This treatment combines a medicine that slowly releases its effect with a physical device that makes the treatment easier for patients to manage. If this treatment works, it could lead to better outcomes for patients by offering a more manageable and consistent way to treat dry eye disease.
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