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A new drug from UIC that will proceed to clinical trials — biologic eyedrops to treat dry eye disease — was inspired by patients with cancer and other conditions.

University of Illinois Cancer Center member Sandeep Jain, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist and professor at UIC who practices at UI Health, knows breakthrough treatments aren’t developed overnight. Transitioning from a concept to a safe, effective product takes years of rigorous testing and close collaboration. The new drug took a decade of diligent progress. Development of the eye drops started in the Dry Eye and Ocular GVHD Clinic, which Jain directs at UI Health, the academic health enterprise of UIC, which includes the Cancer Center.

Patients inspired the eyedrops more than 10 years ago in the clinic, where Jain treated debilitating dry eye symptoms stemming from autoimmune disorders, cancer treatments and other conditions. 

Read more about the eyedrops in UIC Today.

Pictured: Sandeep Jain, MD, and his team.