Companies join forces to form BNS Opthalmics with pipeline for AMD treatment

RAFARM and BioNanoSim have entered into an agreement to create a new Opthalmic company: BNS Opthalmics (BNSO). (Image Credit: Adobe Stock/DragonImages)

In a joint press conference¹, RAFARM, a Greek-based pharmaceutical company and BioNanoSim (BNS), an Israeli-based nanotechnology drug discovery company announced that the two companies have entered into an agreement to create a new Opthalmic company: BNS Opthalmics (BNSO).

The newly created company will “develop, manufacture, and commercialize a range of innovative ophthalmic pharmaceutical products developed by BioNanoSim to address serious ophthalmic unmet needs for patients around the world,” said representatives at the press conference.

The first product developed by BNSO that uses the proprietary nano-technology platform (NTPO) created by BNS is BNSO-1, a Tacrolimus ocular emulsion for topical ocular administration. The company states that BNSO is on track to initiate a phase I/IIa clinical study before the end of 2023 in patients suffering from Chronic Anterior Uveitis.

BNSO states the company has 2 additional preclinical programs in its pipeline, both invented by Simon Benita, co-founder of BNS, and developed by BNS. The first is an “innovative delivery technology enabling a prolonged release intravitreal injection of a steroid derivative drug (without any impact on the intraocular pressure) for macular edema and age-related macular degeneration,” which the company has designated as BSNO-2. The second program is a novel topical drug for dry eye disease designated as BSNO-3.

The companies together described the partnership in that “BNS will contribute its intellectual property and R&D expertise to BNSO while RAFARM will provide appropriate funding, together with infrastructure for development, commercial scale manufacturing, and distribution.”

"We are very pleased to partner with RAFARM and to leverage both organizations' expertise and infrastructure for promoting improved therapeutic options in the ocular area,” said Benita. “At BNS, we synthesize new chemical entities and develop innovative delivery approaches to address some of healthcare's greatest challenges. BNSO will use our proprietary carrier technologies to improve the delivery, stability, and bioactivity of drugs in multiple ocular segments."

Aris Mitsopoulos, Vice President of RAFARM discussed the partnership in the joint press release as well.

“We are very proud of the establishment of BNS Ophthalmics, a company that enhances RAFARM's capabilities in innovation and contributes to cover unmet therapeutic needs in Ophthalmology,” said Mitsopoulos. “Our collaboration with BNS, whom we recognize as a leader in the field of nanotechnology, marks a significant milestone of RAFARM in innovative technologies. We join forces with BNS for the development and production of novel therapeutic products and to further expand our expertise in ophthalmics."

References:

1. BNS and RAFARM create BNS Ophthalmics to leverage nanotechnology in the development of novel ophthalmic products. Press Release. REFARM and BNS; May 30, 2023. Accessed June 8, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bns-and-rafarm-create-bns-ophthalmics-to-leverage-nanotechnology-in-the-development-of-novel-ophthalmic-products-301837204.html