OKYO Pharma Ltd (NASDAQ:OKYO) earlier this week confirmed it is set to launch a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial for neuropathic corneal pain, following a productive Type C meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a conversation with Proactive, chief executive Robert Dempsey said the regulatory meeting provided "a clear line of sight" for advancing the programme, which targets a condition he described as severely debilitating and significantly underserved. Proactive: Welcome back inside our Proac ...

This week's biotech landscape features key FDA approvals, clinical holds and go-aheads, trial discontinuations, and clinical trial data readouts across key therapeutic areas such as Endometrial cancer, Colorectal cancer, Weight Management, Acne, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Let us unpack the key developments and milestones in the biotech space this week.FDA Approvals & RejectionsIntellia Gets FDA Green Light to Resume MAGNITUDE-2 Phase 3 TrialIntellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NTLA) said the U.S. FDA has lif ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

LONDON and NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (Nasdaq: OKYO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing investigational therapies for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and for inflammatory eye diseases, today announces that an abstract on its lead candidate, urcosimod (formerly OK-101), has been accepted for presentation at the prestigious 2026 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Annual Meeting. The accepted paper, titled "Evalua ...

Company Overview - Proactive is a financial news publisher that provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The company operates with a team of experienced and qualified news journalists, ensuring independent content production [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The news team delivers insights across various sectors, including biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] Technology Adoption - Proactive is recognized for its forward-looking approach and enthusiastic adoption of technology to enhance workflows [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Insights - OKYO Pharma Limited has successfully held a Type C meeting with the FDA regarding the Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of urcosimod for treating neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) [1][2] - The FDA's alignment on the clinical development program for urcosimod is seen as a significant step forward in addressing the unmet medical need for patients suffering from NCP [2][6] - Urcosimod has received the first IND to treat NCP and has been granted fast track designation by the FDA, with a 120-patient Phase 2b/3 study expected to begin in the first half of the year [2][7] Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain and inflammatory eye diseases, with its shares traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market [7] - The company has recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of urcosimod in NCP patients and is preparing for further clinical studies [7] Neuropathic Corneal Pain (NCP) - NCP is a chronic condition characterized by severe eye pain and sensitivity, often resulting from damage to corneal sensory nerves, with no FDA-approved therapies currently available [3] - Patients with NCP often rely on off-label treatments with limited success [3] Urcosimod Details - Urcosimod is a lipid-conjugated chemerin peptide agonist that has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects in preclinical models [4] - Positive data from a Phase 2 trial indicated significant pain reduction in NCP patients, supporting its potential as a treatment option [4] FDA Meeting Highlights - The FDA confirmed that the proposed primary endpoint of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain reduction at Week 12 is clinically meaningful, with a ≥2-point improvement indicating a significant treatment effect [6] - The FDA provided guidance on statistical analysis and endorsed the study design, sample size, and powering assumptions, which de-risks the pathway to a pivotal trial [6]

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team covers medium and small-cap markets, as well as blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive's content includes insights across various sectors such as biotech, pharma, mining, natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging technologies [3] Group 2 - Proactive is committed to adopting technology to enhance workflows and content production [4] - The company utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

LONDON and NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (Nasdaq: OKYO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing investigational therapies for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and for inflammatory eye diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a single-patient expanded access (compassionate use) Investigational New Drug (IND) application submitted by Pedram Hamrah, MD, at the University of South Florida, for the us ...

About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government ...

Core Viewpoint - OKYO Pharma Limited announces the appointment of Robert J. Dempsey as Chief Executive Officer, transitioning Gary S. Jacob, Ph.D. to Chief Development Officer, to ensure continuity and advance the company's strategic direction in developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain and inflammatory eye diseases [1][3][4]. Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative therapies for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases, with shares traded on NASDAQ [15]. - The company has recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of its lead drug, urcosimod, in patients with NCP and is planning a larger multicenter trial set to begin in Q1 2026 [15]. Leadership Transition - Robert J. Dempsey brings over 20 years of global ophthalmology experience, including significant roles in drug development and commercialization, previously serving as Group Vice President and Head of Global Ophthalmology at Shire [2][5]. - Dempsey's experience includes leading the commercialization of Xiidra, a top-selling dry eye treatment, and he is expected to leverage this expertise to advance urcosimod [2][4][7]. - Gary S. Jacob, Ph.D. has been recognized for his leadership in shaping OKYO's clinical strategy and will continue to support the company as Chief Development Officer and Board member [4][13]. Product Focus - Urcosimod, the company's lead asset, is a lipid conjugated chemerin peptide agonist that has shown anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects in preclinical models [10]. - The drug has demonstrated statistical significance in multiple endpoints in a Phase 2 trial for dry eye disease and has recently shown positive data for pain reduction in NCP patients [14]. Market Context - Neuropathic corneal pain is a severe condition currently lacking FDA-approved therapies, with existing treatments providing limited success [9]. - The transition in leadership and the focus on advancing urcosimod position OKYO Pharma to address significant unmet needs in this market [3][4].