Approval in the US for a Dry Eye Medication Originating from UMH

TRYPTYR, initially developed by the spin-off Avizorex Pharma from the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) Science Park in Elche, has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of dry eye syndrome.

TRYPTYR, whose active ingredient is acoltremon, is an ophthalmic solution that stimulates the sensory nerves of the cornea, resulting in an increase in natural tear production. In Phase 3 clinical trials conducted with over 900 patients, the drug demonstrated efficacy from the first day of use. Up to four times more patients treated with TRYPTYR® achieved a significant increase in tear production compared to the control group, according to its developers.

This breakthrough originates from research led by Professor Carlos Belmonte, along with his team from the Institute of Neurosciences (IN), a joint centre of UMH and CSIC. Their work focused on the role of temperature-sensitive neurons in regulating the tear film.

In 2013, this line of research led to the creation of Avizorex Pharma, founded by Belmonte and entrepreneur Patrick Tresserras. The company selected acoltremon as the main molecule and developed the initial preclinical and clinical studies with over 100 patients in Spain.

In 2019, Avizorex was acquired by the American pharmaceutical company Aerie Pharmaceuticals, which was later purchased by Alcon, a global leader in eye health. This multinational has driven the final development of the product and plans to launch it in the US during the third quarter of 2025, with plans to expand into other markets.

The project also involved researchers Juana Gallar, Félix Viana, Antonio Ferrer, and Asia Fernández, all affiliated with UMH, CSIC, and IDiBE.

Dry eye syndrome affects approximately 719 million adults worldwide, a growing number due to the continued use of digital screens. TRYPTYR® represents a more effective, faster, and better-tolerated alternative compared to existing treatments, as highlighted by Alcon.