During a Schirmer test, a small strip of filter paper is placed inside the lower eyelid. As tears wet the paper, clinicians can measure how far the moisture travels over a set period of time. The result provides an estimate of aqueous tear production. In oGVHD, that information can be important because the lacrimal glands […]
Ocular graft-versus-host disease can be difficult to diagnose for the same reason it can be difficult to live with: it does not present in exactly the same way in every patient. One person may develop profound tear deficiency after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Another may have more prominent inflammation, corneal staining, eyelid disease, or […]
Scleral lenses are not a cure for oGVHD, but they teach an important lesson about ocular surface protection. Unlike standard contact lenses, scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera, the white part of the eye. This design can create a fluid reservoir over the corneal surface. In patients with severe ocular […]
Clinical trials in oGVHD face a difficult question: what does improvement mean? In some diseases, a single laboratory value or imaging finding can define response. oGVHD is more complex. It can involve symptoms, ocular surface staining, tear production, tear stability, conjunctival disease, corneal epithelial integrity, eyelid changes, meibomian gland function, inflammation, fibrosis, and quality of […]
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation can be life-saving. But survivorship can bring long-term complications, including chronic graft-versus-host disease. For many patients, the eyes become part of that survivorship story. oGVHD can affect comfort, vision, independence, and daily function. Patients may struggle with reading, computer work, driving, light exposure, outdoor activities, sleep, or simply keeping the eyes […]
oGVHD remains difficult to diagnose, stage, and monitor. Biomarkers may help move the field toward greater precision. A biomarker is a measurable biological signal that provides information about disease activity, risk, progression, or treatment response. In oGVHD, researchers have studied molecular signals in tears, cytokines, proteomic markers, lipid mediators, leukocyte-related markers, genetic and molecular signatures, […]
One of the most challenging features of oGVHD is the mismatch between symptoms and clinical signs. Some patients report severe pain, dryness, burning, grittiness, or light sensitivity even when visible findings appear moderate. Others may show clear ocular surface damage but report fewer symptoms than expected. This divergence can be confusing for patients, clinicians, and […]
The meibomian glands are small glands in the eyelids, but their role in ocular surface health is significant. They secrete lipids that help stabilize the tear film and reduce evaporation. Meibomian gland dysfunction is often discussed in routine dry eye disease. In oGVHD, it should be understood in a broader disease context. The glands may […]
The cornea is the transparent front surface of the eye. Its outer layer, the corneal epithelium, protects the eye, supports clear vision, and contributes to comfort. In oGVHD, this surface can become fragile. Corneal epithelial damage may develop when several protective systems fail at once. Tear production may decline. Tear-film quality may deteriorate. Blinking may […]
The conjunctiva is easy to overlook, but in oGVHD it can be central to disease progression. The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers part of the white surface of the eye. It helps maintain ocular surface health, supports immune defense, and contributes to tear-film stability. Conjunctival goblet cells […]
Signal12 is a Phase 3-ready ophthalmic drug company. Our proprietary topical drug, Pro-ocular™, has proven safe and effective in Phase 2 clinical studies, demonstrating significant reductions in the signs and symptoms of ocular Graft-versus-Host Disease (oGvHD)—a chronic, debilitating condition following an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Pro-ocular™ is the only effective treatment for oGvHD, employing transappendageal delivery to precisely target the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve
Signal12 is actively raising capital to complete its Phase 3 clinical trials and bring Pro-ocular™ to market. For information on investment opportunities, please email Neil Edwards at nedwards@signal12inc.com. The company has offices in Greenwich, CT and Boston, MA.
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