LONDON and NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (NASDAQ: OKYO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative ocular therapies for the treatment of inflammatory dry eye disease (DED), a multi-billion-dollar market, and anterior ocular segment diseases including neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), an ocular condition associated with pain but without an FDA approved therapy, announced today the grant of a key U.S. Patent No. 12,053,501 which issued on August 6^th entitled: “Methods for Treating Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease”. The present disclosure covers issued claims on OK-101’s use to treat irritated, burning eyes and blurred vision in patients suffering from DED, strengthening the Company’s intellectual property position in this field.

“We are delighted with the issuance of this U.S. patent, which underscores the innovative potential of OK-101 to treat DED. This milestone strengthens our intellectual property portfolio and positions OKYO Pharma for continued advancement in addressing significant unmet medical needs,” commented Dr. Gary S. Jacob, Ph.D., CEO of OKYO. “The issuance of this patent further solidifies OKYO Pharma's commitment to advancing novel therapies that aim to improve outcomes for patients suffering from ocular pain and inflammation. The company continues to explore strategic partnerships and collaborations to accelerate the development and commercialization of its pipeline candidates.”

About OK-101
OK-101 is a lipid conjugated chemerin peptide agonist 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 technology to produce a novel long-acting drug candidate for treating dry eye disease. OK-101 has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing efficacy signals in mouse models of dry eye disease and corneal neuropathic pain (NCP), respectively, and is designed to combat washout through the inclusion of the lipid anchor built into the drug molecule to enhance the residence time of OK-101 within the ocular environment. OK-101 recently showed statistical significance in multiple endpoints in a recently completed Phase 2, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of OK-101 to treat DED.

About OKYO
OKYO Pharma Limited (NASDAQ: OKYO) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of DED and NCP, with ordinary shares listed for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market. OKYO is focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat inflammatory DED and ocular pain. In addition to the recently completed Phase 2 DED trial, OKYO also has plans underway for the opening of a Phase 2 trial for OK-101 to treat NCP in patients with this debilitating condition. For further information, please visit www.okyopharma.com.