Surrozen Showcases Antibody-Based Wnt Mimetics for Cornea Dystrophies and Dry Eye at ARVO Meeting

Surrozen, Inc., a company at the forefront of developing targeted therapeutics that selectively activate the Wnt pathway for tissue repair and regeneration, unveiled promising preclinical data on their antibody-based Wnt mimetic technologies. These findings, presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting in Seattle on May 7, 2024, highlight the potential of Surrozen's innovations in treating cornea endothelial damage and Dry Eye Disease (DED).

Yang Li, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Research at Surrozen, emphasized the significance of these early results, noting that both Fuchs’ Endothelial Cell Dystrophy and Dry Eye Disease are severe conditions with limited treatment options. The company's research indicates that activating the Wnt pathway can regenerate cells in damaged eye tear gland tissue in DED and stimulate the proliferation of endothelial cells in Fuchs’ Endothelial Cell Dystrophy, potentially preventing vision loss and blindness. Li expressed enthusiasm for further exploring this novel approach to tissue and cell regeneration using Surrozen's antibody-based Wnt mimetic SWAP technologies.

In their study titled "Exploring Cornea Endothelium Regeneration with Selective Wnt Mimetics," Surrozen evaluated whether their antibody-based Wnt mimetic, leveraging the SWAP (Surrozen Wnt signal activating proteins) technologies, could induce cornea endothelial cell proliferation and restore vision in cornea endothelial dystrophies. Human corneal endothelial cells, particularly in patients with Fuchs' Endothelial Cell Dystrophy, have limited regenerative capacity. The preclinical studies revealed that Wnt signaling activation through the Surrozen Fzd 1/2/7 SWAP antibody increased endothelial cell proliferation in vitro.

In a mouse model of cryoinjury, Surrozen's antibody demonstrated activation of Wnt signaling, reduction in corneal edema and thickness, and improved corneal clarity. Fuchs’ Endothelial Cell Dystrophy is characterized by the loss of endothelial cells, leading to corneal swelling, haziness, and vision loss. With around 2.9 million diagnosed cases, current treatments are limited to endothelial transplant or resection at advanced stages. Surrozen's data suggest that Wnt pathway activation has the potential to stimulate endothelial cell proliferation, reduce central corneal thickness, and enhance visual clarity, addressing a significant unmet need in therapeutic options.

Another study, "Antibody-Based Wnt Mimetic Induced Lacrimal Gland Regeneration and Reverses Aqueous Tear Deficiency," evaluated whether Surrozen's Wnt mimetic SWAP technologies could activate lacrimal gland acinar cells and restore tear secretion in DED. The preclinical studies showed that Wnt receptors are present in adult lacrimal gland tissue, and the SWAP antibody activated Wnt signaling, stimulated acinar cell expansion, and accelerated tear volume recovery.

DED and Sjogren’s Syndrome, which affect approximately 16 million people in the United States, result in the destruction of lacrimal gland function, leading to reduced tear fluid production, irritation, and pain. Current treatments mainly involve anti-inflammatory topical eye drops and tear replacements, with no available epithelial regeneration strategy. Surrozen's findings indicate that their antibody-based SWAP platform molecule could regenerate lacrimal gland tissue, offering a potential new therapeutic approach for DED.

Surrozen's SWAP technology aims to mimic the activity of naturally occurring Wnt proteins. These bispecific full-length human IgG antibodies directly activate the Wnt-signaling pathway in target tissues by binding to their natural co-receptors, Fzd and Lrp. This innovative platform has generated and validated a broad library of SWAPs that successfully activate Wnt-signaling, offering potential treatments for corneal endothelial dystrophies and dry eye disease.

Surrozen continues to develop their SWAP technologies, including the bi-specific antibody SZN-413 for retinal diseases, in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim. This partnership aims to leverage Surrozen's Wnt pathway activation strategy to address various eye conditions, advancing the potential for tissue repair and regeneration in ophthalmology.