Clearside Biomedical licenses microinjector to Aura Biosciences

Clearside Biomedical (NSDQ:CLSD) said today that it licensed its microinjector technology to Aura Biosciences for use with Aura drug candidates in treating ocular cancers.

Alpharetta, Ga.-based Clearside’s Suprachoroidal Space Microinjector is designed to deliver therapeutics into the suprachoroidal space between the sclera and choroid of the eye. Aura, based in Cambridge, Mass., is developing viral nanoparticle conjugates designed to seek out and eliminate cancer cells.

Aura plans to investigate the Clearside microinjector as an alternative to intravitreal delivery of its candidates at high-concentration, low-dose strength. If the technology clears pre-clinical and proof-of-concept hurdles, Aura could use it in developing its pipeline, Clearside said.

The deal calls for Aura to pay after reaching development, regulatory and sales milestones, plus any resulting royalties from products using its microinjector.

“Clearside is committed to expanding the global reach of our SCS injection platform, and this collaboration with Aura broadens the use of our technology into the ocular oncology space,” interim CEO George Lasezkay said in prepared remarks. “Drug delivery to the SCS potentially offers several key advantages compared to intravitreal, periocular or subretinal injections, including repeatable, non-surgical drug administration to the SCS and target tissues in the retina and choroid, avoidance of non-targeted tissues, and strong bioavailability and durability. We believe Aura is an ideal partner for our targeted SCS Microinjector that has the potential to optimize dosing and administration of their ocular anti-cancer drug candidates, with the goal of bringing promising new treatments to patients suffering from ocular cancers such as choroidal melanoma.”