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Kiora Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 2 Trial of KIO-101 for the Treatment of Ocular Presentation of Autoimmune Diseases
Encinitas, California--(Newsfile Corp. - April 17, 2023) - Kiora Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KPRX) enrolled the first patient in its Phase 2 trial of KIO-101 in
About this update from Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Encinitas, California--(Newsfile Corp. - April 17, 2023) - Kiora Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KPRX) enrolled the first patient in its Phase 2 trial of KIO-101 in the treatment of the Ocular Presentations of Rheumatoid Arthritis and other autoimmune diseases (OPRA+). This clinical trial is a phase 2, multi-center, controlled, randomized, double-masked study targeting enrollment of up to 120 patients. Participants will receive one of two doses of KIO-101 (0.15% and 0.30%) or a placebo. Efficacy endpoints will evaluate established ocular signs and symptoms, including but not limited to corneal staining and changes in the Schirmer's test score at 12 weeks. The study will also evaluate several safety and tolerability measures.\n\"KIO-101 has the potential to address an unmet need for patients with rheumatoid arthritis as well as other autoimmune diseases that manifest in the eye,\" said Eric Daniels, M.D., Chief Development Officer at Kiora Pharmaceuticals. \"Treatment of the first patient represents an important step forward as the results will provide critical insights into the safety and efficacy of this potentially novel therapy.\"\nOcular surface disease is the most common non-joint manifestation of patients living with rheumatoid arthritis as well as other common autoimmune diseases. Despite recent advancements in the treatment of autoimmune disease, there are few if any options to address autoimmune disease locally in the eye. Currently, available therapies only provide limited relief of ocular dryness, pain and discomfort and are not based on validated autoimmune targets. KIO-101 is a patient-friendly eye drop with a proven mechanism of action in autoimmune diseases.\nKIO-101 is part of a class of non-steroidal autoimmune disease drugs called DHODH inhibitors, which reduce T-cell proliferation and ongoing proinflammatory cytokine release. KIO-101 has previously demonstrated ocular sign and symptom improvements in ocular surface inflammation and has the potential to affect the local immune response in the eye responsible for the ophthalmic signs and symptoms of these autoimmune diseases. Of the autoimmune diseases that KIO-101 is targeting, the ocular manifestations are found in approximately 3.43 million patients in the U.S. alone.\nAbout Kiora Pharmaceuticals\nKiora Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company devel...