Thymosin beta 4 and the eye: the journey from bench to bedside.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) has important applications in ocular repair and Phase 3 clinical trials using Tβ4 to treat dry eye and neurotrophic keratopathy are currently ongoing. These exciting clinical possibilities for Tβ4 in the eye are the result of seminal basic scientific discoveries and contributions from so many talented investigators. Areas covered: My personal Tβ4 journey began at the NIH in 1998 and propelled my career as a clinician scientist. As a tribute to the amazing individuals who have guided and supported me along with my brilliant colleagues and students who have contributed and collaborated with me over the years, this review will tell the cumulative story of how Tβ4 became a major potential new therapy for corneal wound healing disorders. The journey has been marked by the thrilling exhilaration from fundamental breakthroughs in the laboratory and clinic, combined with the challenging and often harsh realities of submitting grants and obtaining funding. Expert opinion: The electrifying possibility of Tβ4 as a revolutionary novel dry eye therapy is something that could have only been dreamed about just a few years ago. We believe that Tβ4 eyedrops will help many patients suffering from several ocular surface related disorders.

• Authors: Gabriel Sosne
• Journal: Expert opinion on biological therapy (Expert Opin Biol Ther) Vol. 18 Issue sup1 Pg. 99-104 (07 2018) ISSN: 1744-7682 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30063853 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Personal Narrative, Review)

Chemical References

• thymosin beta(4)
• Thymosin

Topics

• Animals
• Corneal Diseases (drug therapy, pathology)
• Corneal Keratocytes (pathology)
• Dry Eye Syndromes (drug therapy, pathology)
• Eye (drug effects, pathology)
• Humans
• Ocular Physiological Phenomena (drug effects)
• Thymosin (physiology, therapeutic use)
• Translational Research, Biomedical
• Wound Healing (drug effects)