{"id":107715,"title":"OKYO Pharma is all set to commence a clinical trial for dry eye treatment in the US","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2023-04-25T06:55:16+00:00","modified":"2023-04-25T06:55:16+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/okyo-pharma-is-all-set-to-commence-a-clinical-trial-for-dry-eye-treatment-in-the-us/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/okyo-pharma-is-all-set-to-commence-a-clinical-trial-for-dry-eye-treatment-in-the-us.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/okyo-pharma-is-all-set-to-commence-a-clinical-trial-for-dry-eye-treatment-in-the-us.json","category":"Healthcare","categories":["Healthcare","Pharmaceutical"],"tags":["biotechnology","Bloomberg","diseases","Dr. Gary Jacob","Dr. Napoleone","dry eye","inflammatory","life sciences","NASDAQ","New York Medical College","OKYO","OKYO Pharma","Share Talk","Willy Simon"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Stencil-Google-Chrome-2023-04-19-at-2.47.43-PM.jpeg?fit=1231%2C615&quality=89&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"### Activation of First Clinical Trial Site in the U.S\n\n**OKYO Pharma Ltd,** a biotech company focused on ophthalmology, has announced the activation of its first clinical trial site in the United States for phase II trials of its dry eye disease treatment, OK-101.\n\n**About OK-101**\n\nOK-101 is a lipid conjugated chemerin peptide antagonist of the ChemR23 G-protein coupled receptor which is typically found on immune cells of the eye responsible for the inflammatory response. OK-101 was developed using a membrane-anchored-peptide (MAP) technology to produce a novel long-acting drug candidate for treating dry eye disease.\n\nOK-101 has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing activities in mouse models of dry eye disease and corneal neuropathic pain; and is designed to combat washout through the inclusion of the lipid ‘anchor’ contained in the candidate drug molecule to enhance the residence time of OK-101 within the ocular environment.\n\nThe trial will be multi-centred, randomised, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled, and the first patient is expected to be accepted within two weeks.\n\nWith approximately 700 million people worldwide suffering from this chronic ocular condition, the drug candidate aims to address a significant unmet need in the multi-billion-dollar dry eye disease market. Using membrane-anchored-peptide technology, OK-101 has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing activities in mouse models with dry eye disease and corneal neuropathic pain.\n\nThe candidate drug molecule includes a lipid anchor to combat washout and enhance time on the eyeball. **Gary Jacob, CEO of OKYO Pharma**, anticipates that clinical evaluation will be completed by year-end."}