Sanquin has strengthened the partnership with mu-Drop

Sanquin Blood Supply has strengthened its partnership with mu-Drop B.V., for the development of technology to administer a micro serum eye drop in the eye.

In 2016, Sanquin Bloodbank initiated a collaboration with mu-Drop for the development of serum micro eye drops to help patients suffering from severe Dry Eye Syndrome. This new blood product, with micro eye drops composed of serum processed from human donor blood, can solve an unmet medical need for a large group of patients in The Netherlands. Clinical studies with allogeneic serum micro eye drops are ongoing. After successful conclusion of the study, the introduction of this innovative Sanquin product on the Dutch market is expected in 2020.

The mu-Drop micro eye drop applicator allows the delivery of serum in the eye without spillage. The droplets are 10 times smaller than classic eye drops. This has positive effects on the tolerability and helps to avoid negative side effects associated with classic eye drops.

In order to support the international expansion of the mu-Drop micro eye drop technology, Sanquin Innovatie B.V. has recently signed an agreement with mu‑Drop to invest in the company, allowing the upscaling of the micro eye drop device manufacturing, in exchange for shares in mu-Drop B.V. Investments in upscaling the production capacity are needed in order to cope with the growing demand of the market and to bring delivery times down. Customers on a global level are bloodbanks and pharmaceutical companies developing and supplying solutions for ophthalmic disorders.

Sanquin Innovatie B.V., founded at the end of 2017 as part of the Sanquin organization, is Sanquin’s valorization branch focused on creating new value-adding products and services to tackle challenges in blood-related disease fields through partnering, spin-offs and top-notch research collaborations.

mu-Drop B.V. is a privately held company founded in 2011, developing the micro eye drop platform technology to support bloodbanks and pharmaceutical companies to overcome significant unmet ophthalmic medical needs and improve, amongst other ophthalmic disorders, the outcome of glaucoma and Dry Eye Syndrome therapies and quality of life.