Conventional eye drops have significant clinical limitations
Low bioavailability, rapid pre-corneal elimination, repeated instillations, and patient discomfort reduce the efficacy of ophthalmic treatments.
Why this innovation?
Sol-Gel™ is a patented technology for formulating ophthalmic hydrogels, which have the particularity of being completely liquid during manufacturing, then gelling upon application – more precisely upon contact with lacrimal fluid – thanks to the gellan gum they contain.
This in-situ increase in viscosity ensures optimal patient comfort and prolongs the duration of action of the ophthalmic drug, often allowing a reduction in the amount of active ingredient to be delivered per dose, thus limiting the potential adverse effects of the drug.
Existing solutions require repeated administrations
Short ocular residence time requires multiple instillations, which are burdensome for patients and healthcare professionals, especially in diagnostic or pre-operative contexts.
The need to improve drug contact time and release
Insufficient residence time limits the absorption of the active ingredient and complicates dose optimization.
The need to reconcile efficacy, patient comfort, and ease of use
Traditional approaches can lead to discomfort, adverse effects, and reduced adherence.
The absence of an innovative solution combining in situ gelling and ease of delivery
Before Sol-Gel™, no technology allowed for liquid administration followed by controlled gelling on the ocular surface, with proven benefits in terms of bioavailability and comfort.
The solution: what it changes
SOLUTIONS de rupture Sol Gel
Sol-Gel™ technology combines simple administration, in liquid form, with gelling at the time of ocular instillation.
This in-situ transformation increases the drug’s contact time with the ocular surface and improves its clinical efficacy.
What makes it unique:
- Patient comfort
- Prolonged release
- High ocular bioavailability
- Significant reduction in the required amount of active ingredients compared with conventional eye drops
- Reduction of potential adverse effects
- Known and tested ingredients
Proprietary technology
Solmyd™
Solmyd™ is the first application of our Sol-Gel™ technology. It is a mydriatic hydrogel designed to optimize the induction of diagnostic and pre-operative mydriasis, which contains a combination of tropicamide and phenylephrine hydrochloride.
Mydriasis (pupil dilation) is necessary before many ocular examinations and operations.
To date, only mydriatic solutions have been available on the market. These require several repeated instillations at aintervals of a few minutes, which is burdensome for patients and healthcare professionals.
With Solmyd™, mydriasis is achieved with a single instillation. The concentrations of tropicamide and phenylephrine hydrochloride are lower compared with existing eye drops, which allows for a reduction in the adverse (cardiac) effects of phenylephrine and a single dosage for adults and children.
Scientific Publications
Joint research work has been carried out by the teams at Unither Pharmaceuticals and AGEPS (General Agency for Health Equipment and Products, AP-HP), and the “Unit of Chemical and Biological Technologies for Health, University of Paris, CNRS, INSERM, Faculty of Pharmacy”. To date, six international scientific publications dedicated to Sol-Gel™ technology have been published.
Cyanine derivative as a suitable marker for thermosensitive in situ gelling delivery systems: In vitro and in vivo validation of a sustained buccal drug delivery
In Situ Gelling Ophthalmic Drug Delivery System for the Optimization of Diagnostic and Preoperative Mydriasis: In Vitro Drug Release, Cytotoxicity and Mydriasis Pharmacodynamics
Manufacturing Sites
All our French sites are subject to inspections by European authorities, allowing them to manufacture products for European markets. The Coutances site (France) is regularly inspected by the ANSM (French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products), the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), the ANVISA (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), and other international health authorities.
Got questions? - Consult our FAQ
What is Unither's Sol-Gel™ technology and what are its advantages for ophthalmology?
Our patented Sol-Gel™ technology allows the formulation of liquid ophthalmic hydrogels for production, which gel upon contact with tear fluid thanks to gellan gum. This property increases patient comfort, prolongs drug release time, and offers high bioavailability. Sol-Gel™ requires less active ingredient than traditional eye drops, which limits adverse effects. The first application, Solmyd™, offers effective mydriasis in a single instillation, instead of several successive drops.
Why choose Unither to develop or manufacture an ophthalmic product?
Unither handles the full development cycle – from pre-formulation though industrialization – and assists its clients with complex projects such as preservative-free eye drops, multi-doses (with or without preservatives), Sol-Gel™ hydrogels, and medical devices. Our industrial sites on four continents optimize your supply chains and international registration strategies.