R & D

Alacrity’s Approach to Research and Development

Alacrity Biosciences is committed to bringing to market unique and proprietary products to treat ophthalmic diseases. Our approach is to develop compounds with unique mechanisms of action to fulfill unmet needs and/or compliment existing therapeutic modalities to optimize patient benefits. Our focus is on the areas of ocular surface diseases, glaucoma and retinal disease.

Alacrity's Approach to Treating Dry Eye Disease: ALTY-0501

Ophthalmologists have historically used oral doxycycline to treat ocular rosacea, blepharitis and other ocular surface diseases. Systemic drug administration, however, requires high dosage and results in sub-optimal efficacy coupled with distressing side-effects for patients.

Alacrity Biosciences is developing a proprietary topical formulation of non-antimicrobial doxycycline (ALTY-0501) which has successfully completed a phase 2 clinical trial. ALTY-0501 was shown to protect the ocular surface from damage due to desiccating stress in a controlled adverse environment, and to significantly reduce patient symptoms. Phase 3 trials are scheduled to begin in 2008.

A Unique Mechanism of Action

ALTY-0501 works early in the
disease process by:

• Blocking the activation of disruptive proteases and destructive cytokines.*
• Inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) *
• Maintaining the epithelial barrier on the ocular surface, thus preventing the exposure of underlying nerves and the onset of uncomfortable symptoms. *

* = DePaiva et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006; 47: 2847-2856.