Press Releases
Kiora Pharmaceuticals Granted U.S. and European Patents for Local Ocular Delivery of the KIO-100 Family of Compounds; New IP Specifically Includes Treatment of Posterior Non-Infectious Uveitis
August 23, 2023 -- Encinitas, CA -- Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KPRX) ("Kiora" or the "Company") today announced it has been granted U.S. (Patent # 11,730,716) and European Patents covering local ocular delivery of the KIO-100 family of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory small molecules. This intellectual property (IP) further protects Kiora's pipeline by covering multiple small molecule analogs, delivery methods, and several inflammatory-related therapeutic applications, including posterior non-infectious uveitis, thereby extending market exclusivity for approved indications in the U.S. and Europe.
With these patents issued, Kiora and potential partners can more confidently move forward with the development and commercialization of its KIO-100 family of compounds in combination with optimal delivery routes and formulations. In posterior non-infectious uveitis, the company’s KIO-104 product demonstrated promising results in a Phase 1b clinical study demonstrating decreased retinal inflammation in a dose dependent fashion and significantly improved visual acuity compared to historical controls treated with steroids or Humira®.
"These patents are a testament to the strength of our R&D efforts and the importance of drug delivery” said Brian Strem, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kiora. “This milestone further strengthens the potential commercial position of KIO-104, as a safe and potent steroid-sparring approach. This third generation DHODH inhibitor is a more potent molecule belonging to a validated class of FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drugs already benefitting tens of thousands of multiple sclerosis patients a year. KIO-104 could similarly provide benefit for patients in retinal inflammatory diseases like posterior non-infectious uveitis.”
Posterior non-infectious uveitis is a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the retina, choroid, vitreous, or optic nerve and can lead to severe vision loss if left untreated. Kiora's anti-inflammatory platform, which includes KIO-104, encompasses a family of small molecules that selectively and potently inhibit the enzyme DHODH. By inhibiting DHODH locally, these small molecules have the potential to significantly limit the deleterious inflammatory effects in the retina arising from autoimmune diseases.
About Kiora Pharmaceuticals
Kiora Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing products for the treatment of orphan retinal diseases. KIO-301 is being developed for the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa, and Kiora also plans to develop KIO-301 for Choroideremia and Stargardt's Disease. It is a molecular photoswitch that has the potential to restore vision in patients with inherited and/or age-related retinal degeneration. Kiora plans to develop KIO-104 for the treatment of posterior non-infectious uveitis. It is a next-generation, non-steroidal, immuno-modulatory and small molecule inhibitor of Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (DHODH) with what Kiora believes is best-in-class picomolar potency and a validated immune modulating mechanism (blocks T cell proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine release).
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