Ripple Therapeutics develops polymer-free, sustained drug delivery implants using a proprietary prodrug technology that enables precise control over drug dosing and release duration through surface erosion. This approach addresses the challenges of traditional ophthalmic treatments by providing higher drug loading, improved safety profiles, and reduced treatment burden for patients with conditions like glaucoma and retinal diseases.
Funding
$79.4M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Traditional ophthalmic treatments often rely on frequent eye drops or injections, which can lead to poor patient compliance, inconsistent drug delivery, and potential side effects due to excipients and degradation products. Polymer-based drug delivery systems can also trigger inflammation and may not offer precise control over drug release.
Solution
Ripple Therapeutics develops polymer-free, sustained-release drug implants using a proprietary prodrug technology called Epidel. This platform enables precise control over drug dosing and release duration through surface erosion, eliminating the need for polymers or excipients. The Epidel technology allows for high drug loading, smaller implant sizes, and tunable pharmacokinetics, resulting in improved safety profiles, reduced treatment burden, and better outcomes for patients with ophthalmic conditions. The implants can be manufactured into various forms, including cylinders and microspheres, and are designed to dissolve from the surface in a predictable manner, dictated by the implant's surface area and diameter.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with ophthalmic conditions such as glaucoma, retinal diseases (e.g., diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion), and dry age-related macular degeneration, as well as ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals seeking improved drug delivery methods.
Features
- Polymer-free implants with high drug loading (80%+)
- Tunable drug release and duration via surface erosion
- Smaller implant sizes to minimize patient discomfort
- No pro-inflammatory degradation products, supporting repeat dosing
- Scalable, low-cost manufacturing processes
- Customizable implant shapes (e.g., pulled fiber, microparticles, extruded rod)
- Applicability to a broad range of APIs and ophthalmic indications