CUHK finds dry eye medicine as repurposed drug for endometriosis

A medication used for dry eye disease can also serve as a repurposed treatment option to suppress the growth of endometriotic lesions, medical researchers at the Chinese University found with the help of artificial intelligence in six months.

The university said endometriosis affects 5 to 15 percent of women of reproductive age worldwide. It occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, impacting the pelvic area, ovaries and more. 

This common gynecological condition can lead to infertility and has no cure. While painkillers and hormone therapies may provide symptomatic relief, they also carry potential complications.

The CUHK research team used the AI platform to perform a meta-analysis of an endometriosis-associated dataset, searching for new therapeutic targets and looking for existing drugs to treat the condition.

The dataset did not include data from Hong Kong, mainly from Western countries, with some from Asian countries such as mainland China and Japan.

Jacqueline Chung Pui-wah, clinical associate professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of CU Medicine, explained that the data from Hong Kong and Asian countries are generally consistent.

Ronald Wang Chi-chiu, professor and division head from the same Department, expressed hope for more research budget to include the SAR’s data in future projects.

Wang stated that the potential drug found by the team is currently administered in injection form, and future collaboration with pharmacologists may explore the feasibility of oral administration.

Regarding the prices, CUHK researchers said using a 5ml bottle treatment for dry eye disease as treatment typically ranges from HK$1,500 to HK$2,500 per month.

Currently, medication treatments such as over-the-counter painkillers cost approximately HK$50 to HK$200 per month, while surgical treatments such as laparoscopy range from HK$30,000 to HK$70,000.

(Cheng Wong)