Santen–SERI $16.2m project targets glaucoma, myopia treatment

SONIC 2.0 aims to expand the ophthalmic drug development pipeline for Asia.

The Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and Japan-based Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. have launched a new research collaboration aimed at developing treatments for eye diseases.

The Santen-SERI Open Innovation Center (SONIC) 2.0, valued at $16.2m (S$21m), targets glaucoma and ocular surface diseases, as well as presbyopia and myopia.

SONIC 2.0 aims to produce two clinical-stage drug candidates and expand the ophthalmic drug development pipeline for Asian and international markets. It will run from December 2025 to November 2028.

The programme builds on SONIC 1.0, a $28.5m (S$37m) joint initiative conducted between 2017 and 2023.

S$1 = $0.77