Project FHL124:

Human-derived immortalized lens epithelial cell line developed for opthalmic and translational research applications.

Luxury home exterior

Project FHL124 was developed to provide researchers with a reproducible and human-relevant in vitro lens epithelial model suitable for mechanistic studies, assay development, and translational research.


Description and licenses

Luxury Home Exterior

Description of FHL 124

FHL 124 is a human lens epithelial cell line platform for detecting drug-induced oxidative, metabolic, and apoptotic stress relevant to cataract formation.

FHL 124 is designed to provide a physiologically relevant, reproducible model for ocular research and drug development. As a non-viral, immortalized cell line, FHL 124 avoids the confounding effects associated with virally transformed systems while maintaining stable growth and consistent phenotype.

This combination enables more reliable investigation of lens biology, cataract formation, and compound toxicity in a scalable in vitro platform. FHL 124 offers researchers and developers a practical alternative to primary cells and more complex models, delivering consistency, accessibility, and translational relevance for screening and mechanistic studies.

Luxury Home Exterior

Key applications of FHL 124

FHL 124 is best positioned as a human lens epithelial platform for early detection of drug-induced cataract risk, targeting mechanisms that converge on lens epithelial dysfunction inclusive of oxidative stress, DNA damage and repair imbalance, metabolic and osmotic disruption , and apoptosis. This makes it particularly relevant for screening oncology small molecules, including PAPR inhibitors and kinase inhibitors, corticostertoids, and metabolic pathway modulators, where off-target lens effects can emerge during development.

While large molecule therapies such as monoclonal antibodies typically pose lower direct lens risk, FHL 124 can also support evaluation of indirect inflammatory or stress-mediated effects.

By providing a non-viral, reproducible human lens model, FHL 124 enables developers to identify liabilities earlier, differentiate compounds, and generate mechanistic data that is more physiologically relevant than non-lens epithelial systems.

Drug classes that may benefit from FHL 124 include, but are not limited to:

  • Corticosteroids

  • Antimetabolites / Oxidative Agents

  • PAPRi / Kinase Inhibitors

  • Osmotically Active Drugs (Diabetes Adjacent)

  • MABs

  • Antipsychotics / CNS Drugs

  • Opthalmic Drugs

Luxury Home Exterior

Use and licenses

The FHL 124 human lens epithelial cell line, a widely utilized in-vitro model for lens biology and cataract-related research, is now available to the global scientific community through distribution by ECACC.

Commercial entities, including biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, CROs, and other for-profit organizations, are required to obtain an appropriate commercial use license for internal research, screening, development or commercial applications involving FHL 124. Commercial licensing pathways are designed to support:

  • Internal R&D use

  • Drug discovery and screening

  • Assay development

  • Platform integration

  • Commercial therapeutic development

  • Expanded enterprise access arrangements

The licensing structure preserves broad scientific accessibility while protecting the long-term stewardship and responsible commercial utilization of the platform.

Request a license

License fees are based on the size and stage of the organization seeking commercial rights to FHL124. For pricing purposes, a "Emerging Pharma / Small Biotech" is generally defined as an organization with fewer than 250 employees, annual revenue below $100 million, or one that has not yet launched a commercial product. A "Pharma / Biotech" is generally defined as an organization with 250 or more employees and annual revenue of $100 million or greater, or any organization with one or more commercialized products. To ensure fair and consistent application of the licensing program, final company classification and applicable pricing will be determined by the licensor based on the totality of the organization's size, revenue, stage of development, and business activities.

We strive to make the licensing process as simple and efficient as possible. After you submit a license request, we will review your organization's intended use and confirm the appropriate license type and pricing. Most inquiries receive a response within 24 business hours. Once the license terms are confirmed, we will provide a license agreement and payment instructions. Upon completion of the agreement and payment process, your commercial rights to use FHL124 will become effective.

``` ```
License Type Intended User Scope of Use Key Terms Fee (USD) Term Notes
Evaluation License Any company Internal evaluation only; no commercial outputs Non-transferable $2,500 90 Days 100% credit toward a full license if upgraded within 6 months
Program License Any company One drug candidate or one biological target Internal R&D only; no sublicensing $7,500 (Emerging Pharma/Small Biotech)

$12,500 (Pharma/Biotech)
Perpetual Lowest entry point for commercial use
Company-Wide Research License Multi-program companies All internal R&D programs Non-exclusive; no sublicensing; no redistribution $15,000 (Emerging Pharma/Small Biotech)

$25,000 (Pharma/Biotech)
Perpetual Most common license type
Enterprise / CRO License CROs, service providers, large pharma/biotech Internal R&D plus client-sponsored work Allows fee-for-service use; reporting requirements may apply $50,000 3 Years
(Negotiable)
Required for external or client-sponsored work

Complete the form below to request a license


FAQs


Contact us

For commercial licensing or other inquiries, please complete and submit the form below.