RGN-259 (thymosin β4) improves clinically important dry eye efficacies in comparison with prescription drugs in a dry eye model.

Kim CE, Kleinman HK, Sosne G, Ousler GW, Kim K, Kang S, Yang J

Scientific reports12 Jul 2018Cited by 23 (Europe PMC)

PMID30002412PMCIDPMC6043477DOI10.1038/s41598-018-28861-5PepBankPUB-30002412

Summary

This study evaluated the clinical activity of RGN-259 (thymosin β4) in comparison with cyclosporine A (CsA), diquafosol (DQS), and lifitegrast (LFA) in a murine model of dry eye. The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days. After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days. RGN-259 increased tear production similar to that in the DQS- and LFA-treated mice while CsA was inactive. RGN-259 improved corneal smoothness and decreased fluorescein staining similar to that of LFA group while CsA and DQS were inactive. Corneal epithelial detachment was reduced by RGN-259, and DQS and LFA showed similar activity but the CsA was inactive. RGN-259 increased conjunctival goblet cells and mucin production comparable to that seen with CsA, while DQS and LFA were inactive. RGN-259 reduced the over-expression of inflammatory factors comparable to that with CsA and LFA, while DQS was inactive. RGN-259 increased mucin production comparable to that observed with CsA, while DQS and LFA were inactive. In conclusion, RGN-259 promoted recovery of mucins and goblet cells, improved corneal integrity, and reduced inflammation in a dry eye mouse model and was equal to or more effective than prescription treatments.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a mouse dry eye model, RGN-259 increased tear production similar to diquafosol and lifitegrast, while cyclosporine A was inactive.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, RGN-259 (a thymosin beta‑4 product) raised tear production about as much as two drugs. A third drug had no effect.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseTear production
Study
mousen: not reported in source
NOD.B10-H2b mice with desiccation stress and scopolamine (dry eye model)
Comparator
Cyclosporine A, diquafosol, lifitegrast
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 10 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
RGN-259 increased tear production similar to that in the DQS- and LFA-treated mice while CsA was inactive.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days.
Summary · context
After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3000241201
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a mouse dry eye model, RGN-259 improved corneal smoothness similar to lifitegrast, while cyclosporine A and diquafosol were inactive.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, RGN-259 (a thymosin beta‑4 product) smoothed the cornea about as much as lifitegrast. Two other drugs had no effect.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseCorneal smoothness
Study
mousen: not reported in source
NOD.B10-H2b mice with desiccation stress and scopolamine (dry eye model)
Comparator
Cyclosporine A, diquafosol, lifitegrast
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 10 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
RGN-259 improved corneal smoothness and decreased fluorescein staining similar to that of LFA group while CsA and DQS were inactive.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days.
Summary · context
After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3000241202
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a mouse dry eye model, RGN-259 decreased fluorescein staining similar to lifitegrast, while cyclosporine A and diquafosol were inactive.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, RGN-259 (a thymosin beta‑4 product) reduced corneal staining about as much as lifitegrast. Two other drugs had no effect.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseCorneal fluorescein staining
Study
mousen: not reported in source
NOD.B10-H2b mice with desiccation stress and scopolamine (dry eye model)
Comparator
Cyclosporine A, diquafosol, lifitegrast
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 10 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
RGN-259 improved corneal smoothness and decreased fluorescein staining similar to that of LFA group while CsA and DQS were inactive.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days.
Summary · context
After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3000241203
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a mouse dry eye model, RGN-259 reduced corneal epithelial detachment. Diquafosol and lifitegrast showed similar activity and cyclosporine A was inactive.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, RGN-259 (a thymosin beta‑4 product) reduced damage to the corneal surface layer. Two drugs did the same, one did not.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseCorneal epithelial detachment
Study
mousen: not reported in source
NOD.B10-H2b mice with desiccation stress and scopolamine (dry eye model)
Comparator
Cyclosporine A, diquafosol, lifitegrast
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 10 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Corneal epithelial detachment was reduced by RGN-259, and DQS and LFA showed similar activity but the CsA was inactive.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days.
Summary · context
After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3000241204
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a mouse dry eye model, RGN-259 increased conjunctival goblet cells comparable to cyclosporine A, while diquafosol and lifitegrast were inactive.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, RGN-259 (a thymosin beta‑4 product) raised mucus-making cells about as much as cyclosporine A. Two other drugs had no effect.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseConjunctival goblet cells
Study
mousen: not reported in source
NOD.B10-H2b mice with desiccation stress and scopolamine (dry eye model)
Comparator
Cyclosporine A, diquafosol, lifitegrast
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 10 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
RGN-259 increased conjunctival goblet cells and mucin production comparable to that seen with CsA, while DQS and LFA were inactive.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days.
Summary · context
After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3000241205
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a mouse dry eye model, RGN-259 increased mucin production comparable to cyclosporine A, while diquafosol and lifitegrast were inactive.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, RGN-259 (a thymosin beta‑4 product) raised mucin about as much as cyclosporine A. Two other drugs had no effect.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseMucin production
Study
mousen: not reported in source
NOD.B10-H2b mice with desiccation stress and scopolamine (dry eye model)
Comparator
Cyclosporine A, diquafosol, lifitegrast
Outcome group
Ocular surface · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 10 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
RGN-259 increased conjunctival goblet cells and mucin production comparable to that seen with CsA, while DQS and LFA were inactive.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
RGN-259 increased mucin production comparable to that observed with CsA, while DQS and LFA were inactive.
Summary · context
The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days.
Summary · context
After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3000241206
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In a mouse dry eye model, RGN-259 reduced over-expression of inflammatory factors comparable to cyclosporine A and lifitegrast, while diquafosol was inactive.
In plain wordsIn mice with dry eye, RGN-259 (a thymosin beta‑4 product) lowered inflammation markers about as much as two drugs. A third drug had no effect.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseInflammatory factor over-expression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
NOD.B10-H2b mice with desiccation stress and scopolamine (dry eye model)
Comparator
Cyclosporine A, diquafosol, lifitegrast
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · 10 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
RGN-259 reduced the over-expression of inflammatory factors comparable to that with CsA and LFA, while DQS was inactive.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The model was NOD.B10-H2^b mice in a 30-40% humidified environment together with daily scopolamine hydrobromide injections for 10 days.
Summary · context
After desiccation stress, all drugs were evaluated after 10 treatment days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3000241207

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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