Regenerating agent shows promise in the treatment of neurotrophic corneal ulcers

PARIS — Eye drops that contain a new regenerating agent, or RGTA, may be a novel, promising option in the treatment of neurotrophic corneal ulcers that do not respond to conventional treatment.

Abdelouahab Aifa

“The RGTA is polymer mimetic of the heparan sulfates, a large family of polysaccharides that play a central role in the regeneration processes within the extracellular matrix. Instilled in the eye, it has the ability to restore a microenvironment where fibrotic processes are blocked and healthy cell renewal can take place,” Denis Barritault, PhD, the inventor of the technology, said in an interview with Ocular Surgery News at the meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology.

Results of a prospective study with the RGTA, currently produced by OTR3 with the brand name of Cacicol20, were presented at the meeting by Abdelouahab Aifa, MD. The study was carried out at the Hospital of Rouen, France. Eleven eyes of 11 patients with neurotrophic ulcers were treated with the agent. Complete corneal re-epithelialization was achieved in eight eyes within 2 to 12 weeks of treatment.

A multicenter study involving 18 centers in France is currently under way.

Disclosures: Dr. Barritault is the inventor and patent owner of RGTA. Dr. Aifa has no relevant financial disclosures.