Curative Biotechnology Engages Sterling Pharmaceutical to Manufacture Metformin Ophthalmic Therapy

Manufacturing agreement advances company's metformin-based platform toward first-in-human clinical study.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:08pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal structure of an eye as glowing lines against a dark background, conceptually representing the advanced technology and scientific research behind Curative's metformin-based ophthalmic therapy.Curative Biotechnology's metformin-based ophthalmic therapy aims to unlock new insights into treating degenerative eye diseases at the molecular level.Palm Beach Gardens Today

Curative Biotechnology, a development-stage biomedical company focused on therapies for degenerative eye diseases, has engaged Sterling Pharmaceutical Services, a U.S.-based contract manufacturer, to produce the clinical supply of its metformin-based topical ophthalmic formulation. This manufacturing engagement supports Curative's planned Phase 1 human clinical study in dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and its clinical K9 study targeting PDE6-associated retinal degeneration.

Why it matters

Establishing a manufacturing pathway represents an important milestone as Curative advances its metformin-based ophthalmology platform toward clinical evaluation. The company believes metformin could offer a novel therapeutic approach for treating intermediate and late-stage AMD, a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.

The details

Under the agreement, Sterling Pharmaceutical Services, located in Dupo, Illinois, will support production of the topical metformin ophthalmic drops intended for use in Curative's planned first-in-human clinical study. The manufacturing engagement is expected to enable both the company's AMD study and its clinical K9 study targeting PDE6-associated retinal degeneration, a genetic early-onset retinal disease in dogs.

  • Curative recently completed a 1-for-150 reverse stock split as part of its strategy to improve capital structure and position the company for a planned OTCQB uplist.
  • The manufacturing engagement is expected to support Curative's planned Phase 1 human clinical study in dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and its clinical K9 study targeting PDE6-associated retinal degeneration.

The players

Curative Biotechnology, Inc.

A development-stage biomedical company focused on novel therapies for degenerative eye diseases.

Sterling Pharmaceutical Services, LLC

A U.S.-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that specializes in formulation development and manufacturing of sterile pharmaceutical products.

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NEI has granted Curative an exclusive worldwide license for its metformin-based ophthalmology platform.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The federal agency that Curative has a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with to support the development of its metformin-based topical ophthalmic formulation.

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What they’re saying

“Engaging Sterling Pharmaceutical Services represents an important step in advancing our metformin-based ophthalmology platform toward clinical development.”

— Paul Michaels, Executive Chairman of Curative Biotechnology

“We are pleased to support Curative Biotechnology as it advances development of its topical ophthalmic program toward the clinic.”

— Robert T. Flynn, CEO of Sterling Pharmaceutical Services

What’s next

Curative plans to initiate its first-in-human clinical trial of the metformin-based topical ophthalmic formulation under its CRADA with the National Eye Institute.

The takeaway

Curative's engagement with Sterling Pharmaceutical Services to manufacture the clinical supply of its metformin-based ophthalmic therapy represents a key milestone in the company's efforts to advance a novel treatment approach for degenerative eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration.