03115: Prolonging Tear Film Stability in Dogs Using a Novel Rabbit Nonpolar Lipid (rNPL593)
Grant Status: Open
Abstract
Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ophthalmic disease in dogs with an estimated prevalence of 1.5-35% of the population. Despite the clinical improvements made with traditional therapeutics (e.g. immunomodulatory medications), many dogs require frequent application of topical tear replacements to provide comfort. Thus, there is a clinical need to develop novel therapeutics to stabilize the tear film for treating DED in dogs. The investigators recently identified a unique lipid in the tear film of rabbits, a species with a hyperstable tear film and extremely long interblink interval, not found in humans, dogs, or rodents. They hypothesize that topical treatment with this rabbit lipid, termed rNPL593, could prolong tear film stability as a therapeutic intervention. Preliminary results suggest that rNPL593 can increase tear film stability in healthy dogs and the investigators have published a study demonstrating the therapeutic efficacy of rNPL593 in a rabbit model of DED. This proposal seeks to (1) determine the therapeutic efficacy of a rNPL593 on tear film stability and ocular surface health in dogs with DED and (2) compare the lipid profile of tears in DED-affected dogs treated with rNPL593 or vehicle and with healthy dogs. The investigators expect that rNPL593 will prolong tear film stability and improve ocular surface health in DED-affected dogs. If successful, the team can translate these results to human patients with DED.
Publication(s)
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.
