OKYO Pharma accelerates neuropathic corneal pain treatment with early closure of Phase 2 trial

OKYO Pharma CEO Gary Jacob joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce a strategic decision to accelerate the clinical development of urcosimod, its lead candidate for Neuropathic Corneal Pain. CEO Gary Jacob shared the update in an interview with Proactive, highlighting the company's decision to terminate its ongoing Phase 2 trial early in order to access and analyze masked trial data that could inform the next stage of clinical advancement. The Phase 2 trial, being conducted at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA, was initially designed as a single-site study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of urcosimod in patients suffering from NCP—a debilitating and poorly understood ocular condition. To date, 17 patients have successfully completed the trial. All of them were diagnosed with chronic, long-term NCP and had failed multiple prior therapies, positioning this cohort as a challenging yet highly relevant population for evaluating urcosimod's potential. According to Jacob, the trial has attracted significant attention from NCP sufferers, reinforcing the high unmet need in this patient population. NCP is characterized by severe ocular pain, light sensitivity, and discomfort that can radiate to the face or head. Its exact etiology remains uncertain but is believed to involve nerve damage and persistent inflammation of the cornea. Currently, no approved therapies exist specifically for NCP, and most patients rely on off-label or palliative treatments with limited success. OKYO’s decision to close the trial early reflects a proactive strategic shift, allowing the company to refine its clinical development path and expedite next steps. The company is preparing to launch a multicenter trial, which will include multiple clinical sites and a broader patient population, enhancing the statistical robustness and generalizability of the data. As OKYO prepares for this next clinical phase, the company remains focused on its core mission of delivering innovative therapies for underserved ophthalmic conditions. The accelerated pathway for urcosimod underscores its potential to reshape the treatment landscape for neuropathic eye disorders. #proactiveinvestors #okyopharmalimited #nasdaq #okyo #Urcosimod #NeuropathicCornealPain #BiotechNews #ClinicalTrials #FDAapproval #Ophthalmology #DrugDevelopment #CompassionateUse #EyeHealth