Business
Kerato Ltd Partners with University of Montreal
Kerato Ltd Partners with University of Montreal.
About this update from Bsf Enterprise Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n \n12 August 2024\nBSF Enterprise PLC\n \nKerato Ltd Partners with University of Montreal to develop\na novel treatment for corneal damage\n \nBSF the Main Market listed biotech company and owner of corneal tissue replacement company Kerato Ltd, is pleased to announce that Kerato Ltd has entered into a Heads of Terms agreement and research partnership with the University of Montreal in Canada.\n \nBSF's 100% owned Kerato is an independent company established to commercialise new innovations in tissue engineering towards in vitro and in vivo corneal use.\n \nAs part of this strategy, Kerato will work with the University of Montreal, combining tissue engineering expertise to further develop an in-situ gelling cornea that offers a novel treatment for corneal damage and full thickness perforations.\n \nCorneas are the most frequently transplanted human tissue worldwide, with around 185,000 procedures per annum1. However, it is estimated that 55% of the world's population do not have access to donor material1 with an estimated 12.7 million people worldwide waiting for a transplant2. The global artificial cornea and corneal implant market was valued at $ 421 million in 20213, of which Kerato estimates its serviceable market to be $37.6 million. The total market is expected to grow at 6.9% per annum to reach $ 767.5 million by 20303.\n \nKerato's treatment combines host corneal stromal cells with a synthetic extracellular matrix protein sequence to support tissue healing and re-epithelialization of the surface of the eye. Administered via injections to repair damaged tissue rather than performing full transplant surgery, the treatment is expected to greatly reduce the complexity of procedures for many patients. This is expected to reduce time in hospital, decrease the likelihood of graft rejection, reduce costs for health service providers and result in better patient outcomes.\n \nNew tissue resulting from the treatment comprising the patient's own stromal cells, is transparent and replicates the natural curvature of the eye. Stromal cells comprise the extracellular matrix that provide structural support for organs. Kerato's Intellectual property and academic partners have previously demonstrated the critical role of corneal stromal cells in engineering a healthy extracellular ma...