Healome Therapeutics Secures £2 Million for Ocular Drug Matrix
Patients with ocular surface diseases often face a daunting regimen of 20 drops a day, a cycle that leads to low adherence and poor outcomes. Birmingham-based Healome Therapeutics aims to break this pattern with a new polymer matrix that stays on the eye longer, securing £2 million in seed funding to reach human trials.
The oversubscribed round was led by Empirical Ventures, with backing from DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio, and SFC Capital. Healome’s technology creates a clear, protective barrier that restructures upon contact with the eye. By extending the residence time of drugs, the company hopes to address conditions ranging from common dry eye to rare, sight-threatening complications associated with Epidermolysis Bullosa.
Developed at the University of Birmingham, the platform utilizes food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade polymers to avoid the regulatory hurdles of complex chemical modifications. CEO Richard Williams noted that the capital will fuel manufacturing scale-up and regulatory engagement with the MHRA and FDA, with the first-in-human studies slated for 2027. Johnathan Matlock of Empirical Ventures cited the team’s focus on solving the fundamental bottleneck of drug retention as a key driver for the investment, viewing the platform as a potential category-defining solution in ophthalmology.
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