OKYO Pharma Awarded European Patent for OK-101 Chemerin Analogs and Usage Method

LONDON and NEW YORK, Aug. 06, 2024 — OKYO Pharma Limited, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company listed on NASDAQ, has announced the grant of a crucial European Patent titled: “Compositions Comprising Chemerin Analogs and Methods of Use.” This patent protects their innovative OK-101 chemerin analogs, aimed at treating inflammatory dry eye disease (DED) and anterior ocular segment diseases, including neuropathic corneal pain (NCP). These conditions are notably severe, with NCP being a painful eye condition that currently lacks FDA-approved treatments.

The announcement highlights Raj Patil, the Chief Scientific Officer of OKYO Pharma, as a joint inventor on the patent. The company emphasizes that this patent strengthens its intellectual property and underscores the innovative potential of their OK-101 chemerin analogs. Dr. Gary S. Jacob, CEO of OKYO, expressed his pleasure about this milestone, indicating that it reinforces their commitment to developing therapies for ocular pain and inflammation. Dr. Jacob also mentioned that the patent positions the company for further progress in addressing significant unmet medical needs in their field.

OK-101, a key focus of OKYO Pharma, is a lipid-conjugated chemerin peptide agonist that targets the ChemR23 G-protein coupled receptor, typically found on immune cells in the eye responsible for inflammatory responses. Developed using a membrane-anchored-peptide technology, OK-101 is a novel, long-acting drug candidate designed for treating dry eye disease. The drug has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties in mouse models for dry eye disease and corneal neuropathic pain. A significant feature of OK-101 is its lipid anchor, which enhances the drug's residence time within the ocular environment, reducing the likelihood of washout.

OK-101 showed promising results in a Phase 2, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, achieving statistical significance in multiple endpoints for treating DED. Following these results, OKYO Pharma plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial to evaluate OK-101 in patients suffering from NCP.

OKYO Pharma Limited, trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market, focuses on discovering and developing novel molecules to treat inflammatory DED and ocular pain. Beyond the Phase 2 DED trial, the company is actively preparing for a Phase 2 trial for OK-101 to treat NCP, a debilitating condition affecting many patients.

The company's strategic initiatives include exploring partnerships and collaborations to accelerate the development and commercialization of its pipeline candidates. These efforts align with OKYO Pharma's mission to deliver innovative therapies that can significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients with ocular pain and inflammation.