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Kiora Pharmaceuticals Reports Q3 2023 Results; Expanding Clinical Development of KIO-301 for Inherited Retinal Diseases Based on Encouraging Results of ABACUS-1 Study in Retinitis Pigmentosa
Encinitas, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 9, 2023) - Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KPRX) ("Kiora" or the "Company") today announced its third
About this update from Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Encinitas, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 9, 2023) - Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KPRX) (\"Kiora\" or the \"Company\") today announced its third quarter 2023 financial results and is providing an update on its plans to advance clinical development of KIO-301 for other inherited retinal diseases.\nOn November 4, 2023, Kiora reported results from the ABACUS-1 study, a Phase 1b first-in-human clinical trial of the Company's molecular photoswitch, KIO-301, in patients with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The key findings from ABACUS-1 demonstrated that KIO-301 is safe & tolerable in this population and further showed significant improvements in visual field and a concordance of trended improvements in visual acuity and functional vision. Functional MRI demonstrated increased brain activity in visual cortex.\nBased on these findings, the Company will expand clinical development of KIO-301 for multiple inherited retinal diseases. This includes the initiation of a Phase 2 controlled, double-masked, randomized, ascending-dose trial in up to 20 patients with RP dosed monthly over 90 days (ABACUS-2). In addition, Kiora plans to initiate two additional Phase 2 studies, one for Choroideremia (CHM) and another Stargardt disease, being able to leverage synergies for efficient trial execution. CHM and Stargardt disease are inherited retinal diseases with a similar pathology to RP and may qualify of Orphan Drug Designation.\n\"Based on our internal assessment and input from our scientific and medical advisors, we will initiate ABACUS-2 in the first half of 2024, with the goal of confirming both efficacy and safety in a multi-dose, double-masked, controlled clinical trial,\" said Brian M. Strem, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Kiora. \"Ahead of this trial, we have plans to meet with the FDA in Q4 2023 to ensure alignment on study designs, endpoints and additional requirements to perform studies in the US and Europe for RP as well as other inherited retinal diseases like CHM and Stargardt disease. This strategy represents a cost-effective and expedited path to bring a potential new treatment for multiple inherited retinal diseases for which there are currently no available therapies.\"\nAchieved and Upcoming Milestones:\nThe milestones that Kiora achieved in the first half of 2023 include the following:\n\nKIO-301: Reporte...