Explore Ocular Drug Delivery With Us

Ocular routes of administration offer a unique challenge in ensuring that the therapeutic reaches the targeted regions of the eye. NorthernBio supports intracorneal, intracameral, intravitreal, periocular, suprachoroidal, and subretinal administration, allowing the route to be matched to the intended ocular compartment and therapeutic objective.

NorthernBio performs subretinal injections under a Zeiss operating microscope using the same posterior segment systems a retinal surgeon works with clinically, including the Bausch and Lomb Stellaris Elite.

NorthernBio collects OCT and cSLO on a Heidelberg Spectralis for cross-sectional retinal structure, widefield color fundus images on RetCam III and Topcon TRC50-DX, intraocular pressure by Tonovet and Tonolab, slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy scoring for anterior and posterior segment findings, and full-field electroretinography to measure retinal function. All of these can be repeated in the same animal over time, which is how ocular safety and efficacy studies track change.

Rabbits are common for tolerability and intravitreal work, swine and dogs suit subretinal surgery and retinal disease models, and nonhuman primates are used when the study requires a macula. NorthernBio supports ocular studies across all four species and can help sponsors select an appropriate species based on target, route, modality, endpoints and development objectives.

Neither route is inherently better; they access different ocular compartments and have different distribution profiles. Intravitreal injection is technically simpler and distributes broadly through the vitreous and retina. Suprachoroidal delivery targets the choroid and outer retina while keeping more of the dose away from the anterior segment. NorthernBio performs both, and sponsors often compare the two routes in one study to see which produces better exposure at the target tissue.

NorthernBio conducts ocular research at our Muskegon, Michigan facilities. Both are in West Michigan, an easy drive from Grand Rapids for sponsors who want to attend dosing or surgery days.