Research and Development
micro-RNA therapy
Sunhawk Vision Biotech, Inc. is the first company focused on microRNA therapy in ophthalmic diseases. Its flagship product, SHJ002 eye drops, stems from the groundbreaking discovery by its R&D team that overexpression of microRNA (also known as miRNA) in the eye leads to ophthalmic disease. Sunhawk’s research team published a series of their works in prestigious scientific journals including Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), Biomedicines, Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics etc. which clearly showed how microRNA and RNA interference (RNAi) may possess therapeutic potentials in ophthalmic diseases. Notably, the discovery of microRNA and RNAi the award of 2024 and 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, respectively.
Sunhawk Vision Biotech is one of very few companies globally to have completed microRNA therapy in Phase 2 clinical trials. In April 2024, the company announced positive Phase 2 trial results for treating dry eye disease, due to significant improvement in corneal staining and multiple patient-reported symptoms. Sunhawk is conducting more clinical trials using microRNA therapy for myopia control in children and ocular surface diseases.
MicroRNAs are non-coding, single-stranded RNA molecules approximately 21–23 nucleotides in length, with over 2,000 identified in humans. Each microRNA can complementarily bind to multiple messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences in the 3’ untranslated region (UTR), thereby suppressing mRNA’s ability to produce proteins. This mechanism highlights the crucial role of microRNAs in regulating vital physiological functions such as cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis.
