 offers a less invasive alternative to injections. Hong Kong could be among the first to adopt this innovative treatment.){kind=link}
Hong Kong may soon become one of the first regions to benefit from a groundbreaking eye drop treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME), a condition that can lead to blindness. Developed by Swiss start-up Oculis Holding, the eye drop, OCS-01, is currently in phase 3 trials and offers a less invasive alternative to current treatments that require monthly eye injections.
According to Oculis CEO Riad Sherif, the injections, while effective for some, deter many early-stage patients due to their invasive nature. Globally, two-thirds of DME patients remain untreated, with only 60% of those receiving injections seeing improvement. OCS-01 aims to provide a more tolerable treatment option that encourages earlier intervention, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients.
DME, caused by high blood sugar weakening retinal blood vessels and leading to swelling in the retina, is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults in developed countries. Early treatment is crucial, as even successful injection regimes can only restore about half of the lost visual acuity.
The eye drop treatment has shown promising early results. In trials involving 350 patients across the United States, Argentina, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, those treated with OCS-01 were able to read an average of 7.6 more characters on the Snellen eye chart after three months, compared to 3.7 characters for placebo patients. Nearly 28% of treated patients could read 15 or more additional letters, versus 7.5% in the placebo group.
Sherif highlighted that OCS-01 has demonstrated effectiveness comparable to current injection treatments while avoiding risks such as hemorrhage and vitreous detachment. If approved, OCS-01 would be the first topical treatment for DME, offering a less invasive alternative to injections.
With nearly 700,000 diabetics in Hong Kong, around 11% of whom develop DME, the city presents a significant opportunity for this treatment. Oculis is working closely with local ophthalmologists and expects complete trial results by early 2026. Regulatory approval in the U.S. is anticipated by mid-2027, with Hong Kong among the first jurisdictions to receive the product.
Chief Financial Officer Silvia Cheung stated that while the pricing of OCS-01 will be slightly lower than injections, it won’t be significantly discounted. She also revealed plans to position Hong Kong as Oculis’ hub for marketing products across Asia.
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