BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, July 7, 2026
Healome Therapeutics, a University of Birmingham spinout developing an innovative eye-drop matrix technology for ocular surface diseases, has successfully closed an oversubscribed £2 million seed financing round led by Empirical Ventures, with participation from DEBRA Research, Cure EB, Oshen Bio, and existing investor SFC Capital. The investment will accelerate preclinical development, GMP manufacturing scale-up, regulatory activities, and progression toward first-in-human clinical studies targeted for 2027. Healome is developing a proprietary ophthalmic platform that addresses one of the biggest limitations of conventional eye drops—their rapid clearance from the ocular surface. By significantly extending drug residence time, the company’s technology has the potential to improve treatment adherence, enhance therapeutic effectiveness, and support the delivery of a wide range of medicines, including small molecules and biologics, for multiple ophthalmic disorders. The successful financing highlights growing investor confidence in innovative ophthalmic drug delivery technologies capable of transforming treatment for both common and rare eye diseases.
Novel Eye-Drop Matrix Extends Drug Residence Time
Healome’s proprietary platform is built around a structured polymer matrix that behaves as a liquid during administration before rapidly restructuring into a clear, lubricating, and protective matrix once applied to the eye. This extended-residence technology enables drugs to remain on the ocular surface significantly longer than conventional eye drops, which are typically cleared within minutes and often require dosing as frequently as 20 times per day. Low treatment adherence remains a major challenge in ophthalmology, particularly for chronic conditions such as dry eye disease, where patient compliance can fall to approximately 20%.
The Healome platform is designed to overcome this challenge by improving drug retention while supporting sustained therapeutic activity. Preclinical studies have also demonstrated successful delivery of an anti-scarring biologic therapy in models of severe corneal injury, producing rapid corneal healing with minimal side effects. The technology is being developed for dry eye disease, ocular surface inflammation, corneal injury, chronic ophthalmic drug delivery, and rare ocular disorders, supported by five patent families protecting the underlying platform architecture.
Funding Accelerates Development Toward Clinical Studies
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The newly secured capital will enable Healome to advance its platform toward first-in-human clinical evaluation in 2027 while supporting GMP manufacturing, regulatory engagement with the MHRA and U.S. FDA, and additional IND-enabling studies. Strategic participation from DEBRA Research and Cure EB will specifically support development of treatments for ocular complications associated with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic disorder that can cause chronic corneal abrasions, severe pain, vision impairment, and permanent scarring.
The technology originated from research conducted at the University of Birmingham’s Healthcare Technologies Institute, supported by approximately £5 million in non-dilutive research funding, and is backed by a multidisciplinary team with extensive expertise in biomaterials science, regenerative medicine, ophthalmology, and translational drug development. Investors believe Healome’s manufacturing-friendly platform, which utilizes established pharmaceutical-grade polymers rather than complex chemical modifications, provides a scalable and commercially attractive approach to ophthalmic drug delivery. As demand continues to grow for more effective treatments across the global ocular surface disease market, estimated to exceed USD 12 billion, Healome Therapeutics is positioning itself as an emerging innovator capable of delivering next-generation ophthalmic therapies that improve patient adherence, therapeutic outcomes, and quality of life for individuals living with chronic and rare eye diseases.
Source: Healome Therapeutics press release
