Sponsor undergoing financial hardships - no longer able to support trial; no safety concerns.

The primary objective is to determine the efficacy of ST266 eye drops in healing persistent epithelial defects (PED). After 8 weeks of randomized, double-blind treatment, non-healers will enter into an additional 8-week open-label ST266 treatment period. All patients will be followed for 3-months post-treatment for monitoring of safety and maintenance of re-epithelialization.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and non-pregnant/non-breastfeeding female subjects aged 18 years and older.
2. Subjects with a PED present for at least seven (7) days at the time of Screening.
3. The defect must be at least 1.0 mm (longest linear measurement) at Screening and Baseline (Day 1) and must be measurable by slit lamp.
4. In the Investigator's opinion, the defect is persistent i.e., the defect has not shown improvement despite conventional treatment such as tear supplements and bandage contact lenses.
5. The original defect to the cornea must be the result of an injury, infection, disease, or surgery to the eye.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diabetic cohort only: enrollment will be limited to include up to 50% of subjects with diabetes, as indicated by HbA1c level >6.5%. Subjects with a HbA1c level >6.5% after closure of the diabetic cohort will be excluded.
2. Subjects currently being treated with cenegermin or other rhNGF in the study eye.
3. Subjects currently using topical antibiotic eye drops in the study eye. Subjects on current antibiotic therapy must be willing to switch to study-provided moxifloxacin.
4. Subjects currently taking topical steroids or corticosteroid-containing eye drops or ointment in the study eye. Subjects currently taking systemic corticosteroids with a dose of >10mg/day prednisone or equivalent.
5. Subjects currently using topical antihistamine eye drops or vasoconstrictors in the study eye.
6. Subjects currently using topical or local immunosuppressive agents (e.g., optic cyclosporine or lifitegrast) in the study eye.
7. Subjects who require treatment with autologous serum eyedrops or amnion products in the study eye.
8. Subjects who need to use contact lenses for refractive correction during the study.
9. Subjects who require treatment with bandage contact lens or punctal plugs in the study eye that cannot be removed.
10. Subjects currently taking antiviral medications for an active infection in the study eye. Subjects taking antiviral medications for prophylaxis may be enrolled in the study at the Investigator's discretion, provided that the subject remain on a stable dosing regimen throughout the duration of the study.
11. History of ocular surgery (including laser or refractive surgery) in the study eye within 1 month prior to study screening or, in the opinion of the Investigator, there are persistent post-surgical complications that would impact the study data.
12. Subjects with an uncontrolled lid or ocular infection in the study eye.
13. History of alkali burns of the cornea.
14. The circumference affected by limbal blood vessel ischemia is greater than 75 percent of the limbal circulation.
15. Subjects with severe lid abnormalities contributory to the persistence of the PED such as inability to close the lids.
16. Subjects who have a history of AIDS or HIV.
17. Subjects who have participated in a clinical trial (including a previous study involving ST266) within 30 days prior to Day 1.
18. Subjects who have more than one distinct PED in the study eye prior to screening visits. Subjects who develop PEDs after the screening visit will remain in the study; however, only the original study PED will be assessed.
19. For subjects with bilateral PEDs, only the eye with the larger PED should be entered into the study. The non-study eye will receive standard of care treatment and be observed throughout the trial.
20. Subjects with bullous keratopathy in the study eye.
21. Subjects with corneal perforation or impending corneal perforation in the study eye.
22. Subjects with uncontrolled glaucoma.
23. Female subjects who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Female subjects who are neither postmenopausal for at least 1 year nor surgically sterile require a negative urine pregnancy test. All subjects must use an acceptable form of birth control during the study such as abstinence, barrier method, or hormonal contraceptive.
24. Epithelial defect was classified as a progressive corneal melt caused by an immunological process such as rheumatoid melt or Mooren's ulceration.
25. Subjects with recurrent corneal erosion or corneal basement membrane dystrophy.
26. Known hypersensitivity to study provided lubricating drops, antibiotic drops, and/or procedural medications such as fluorescein dye.
27. Consideration by the Investigator, for any reason, that the subject is an unsuitable candidate to receive ST266.