Replenish

Replenish, Inc. was a medical device company established in 2007, operating from Pasadena, California, before being acquired by Alcon in 2014. The firm focused on developing a solution for chronic eye diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema, which traditionally require patients to endure frequent and uncomfortable injections. One of the co-founders, Dr. Mark S. Humayun, an accomplished inventor and researcher, was pivotal in the company's mission to create a more effective drug administration route for the eye.

The company's core product was the MicroPump, an implantable and refillable drug delivery system. This device was engineered to be surgically placed under the skin of the eye in a short outpatient procedure. Once implanted, the pump could be wirelessly programmed and recharged by a physician to deliver nanoliter-sized doses of medication at predetermined intervals—be it hourly, daily, or monthly. This automated delivery mechanism was intended to replace the standard regimen of physician-administered syringe injections that many patients undergo for life. The MicroPump's reservoir was designed to hold enough medication for up to six months before needing a refill, significantly reducing the treatment burden for patients.

Replenish's business model centered on the development and eventual sale of this therapeutic device within the multi-billion dollar retinal therapeutic market. The company was venture-backed, having raised $10.2 million in an early-stage VC round in July 2009 with investors including Collaborative Fund. Human trials for the MicroPump were conducted to test its safety and efficacy. A study involving patients with diabetic macular edema demonstrated the device's safety over a 90-day period and its ability to deliver programmed microdoses into the vitreous cavity. While some trials were successful, others faced challenges with dose delivery. Ultimately, Replenish, Inc. was acquired by Alcon on January 1, 2014.

Keywords: Replenish Inc., MicroPump, implantable drug delivery, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, retinal therapeutics, ocular drug pump, refillable pump, Mark S. Humayun, nanoliter dosing, wireless programming, Alcon acquisition, therapeutic devices, eye injections, ophthalmic micropump, controlled drug release, chronic eye disease, vitreous cavity delivery