Felice Cheng

Division Director, Innovative Pharmaceutical Division
Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, ITRI
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Felice Cheng is the Division Director of the Targeted Drug and Delivery Technology Division at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan. With a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Cheng specializes in drug delivery systems, particularly for targeted therapeutics and ophthalmic treatments. Since joining ITRI, she has held key leadership roles, including Deputy Division Director and Manager, contributing over a decade of expertise in biomedical research and innovation. Her leadership led to the creation of an innovative eye drop for wet age-related macular degeneration, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional injections. This technology has received multiple patents and international recognition. She is also active in professional education, sharing her expertise through industry training programs.​

Speech title & Synopsis

Company Profile

First-in-Class Dual-Target Kinase Inhibitor for Glaucoma Treatment
ITRI-E-(S)4046 is a novel, small-molecule ophthalmic solution developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) for the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It represents a first-in-class dual-target therapy that simultaneously inhibits ROCK and MYLK4—two validated targets implicated in trabecular meshwork dysfunction and IOP elevation.
This therapeutic innovation addresses the limitations of current treatments, such as inadequate pressure control, drug resistance, and adverse ocular reactions. Unlike prostaglandin analogues (PGAs), which primarily enhance uveoscleral outflow and can induce pigmentation changes, or ROCK-only inhibitors like netarsudil (Rhopressa), which are associated with high rates of conjunctival hyperemia, ITRI-E-(S)4046 offers a synergistic mechanism of action that improves aqueous humor drainage via the trabecular pathway, while minimizing conjunctival exposure and associated side effects.
Preclinical pharmacology and toxicology studies demonstrate that ITRI-E-(S)4046 significantly reduces IOP in normotensive and hypertensive animal models. In bead-induced hypertensive rabbits, 0.1% ITRI-E-(S)4046 reduced IOP by up to 46.9%, with no observed systemic or ocular toxicity after 28-day repeated dosing. Pharmacokinetic analysis confirms sustained ocular tissue exposure well above the IC50 for both ROCK and MYLK4, with once-daily dosing achieving optimal therapeutic levels without accumulation.
ITRI-E-(S)4046 has been validated with established synthetic pathways and scalable production at ITRI. A Phase I/II clinical trial was successfully completed in Australia in May 2024, with support from Metagone Biotech, Inc. Following technology transfer to BRIM Biotechnology, Inc. in August 2024, the company submitted an IND application to the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) in March 2025 to initiate a combined Phase I/IIb clinical trial for the treatment of glaucoma. This development pathway demonstrates strong execution capabilities and regulatory alignment to support rapid clinical advancement.
Given its robust preclinical safety profile, unique dual-target action, and therapeutic potential to address an unmet clinical need, ITRI-E-(S)4046 qualifies as a promising product for expedited regulatory review pathways. Its development aligns with global efforts to advance more effective and safer therapies for glaucoma patients.