LONDON and NEW YORK, Feb. 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 its abstract has been accepted for presentation at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place May 3-7, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. Chief Scientific Officer Raj Patil, Ph.D., will ...

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Core Viewpoint - OKYO Pharma Limited has announced a public offering of 10,815,000 ordinary shares at a price of $1.85 per share, aiming to raise approximately $20 million before expenses and discounts [1][2]. Group 1: Offering Details - The gross proceeds from the offering are expected to be around $20 million, with the potential to increase to approximately $23 million if the underwriter fully exercises its option to purchase additional shares [2]. - The offering is managed solely by Piper Sandler & Co., and is expected to close around February 17, 2026, pending customary closing conditions [3]. Group 2: Use of Proceeds - The net proceeds from the offering will primarily be used for clinical development of product candidates, general corporate purposes, and working capital [2]. Group 3: Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases, with shares traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market [6]. - The company has recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of its lead drug, urcosimod, for NCP and plans to initiate a Phase 2b/3 study involving approximately 150 subjects in the first half of the year [6].

Company Overview - OKYO Pharma Limited is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases [5] - The company is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and is dedicated to discovering and developing novel molecules for treating ocular diseases [5] Offering Details - The company announced an underwritten public offering of its ordinary shares, with all shares to be sold by the company [1] - The underwriter, Piper Sandler & Co., will have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the shares sold at the public offering price [1][2] - The net proceeds from the offering will primarily be used for clinical development of product candidates, general corporate purposes, and working capital [2] Clinical Development - OKYO recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of its flagship drug, urcosimod, in patients with NCP [5] - The company plans to initiate a Phase 2b/3 multiple-dose study of urcosimod, targeting approximately 150 subjects in the first half of the year [5] Regulatory Information - The securities are being offered under a shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) [3] - A preliminary prospectus supplement describing the terms of the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on their website [3]

Core Viewpoint - OKYO Pharma has appointed Leerink Partners as the new sales agent for its At-The-Market (ATM) equity offering, transitioning from B. Riley Securities, to enhance its financial flexibility and support ongoing clinical development [2][3][4]. Group 1: Appointment of Sales Agent - OKYO Pharma Ltd has transitioned its ATM equity offering facility to Leerink Partners, replacing B. Riley Securities as the exclusive sales agent [2][3]. - Leerink Partners will facilitate the sale of common shares directly into the market at prevailing prices, depending on market conditions and company discretion [3]. Group 2: Purpose and Benefits of ATM Facility - The ATM facility is designed to provide OKYO Pharma with the flexibility to raise capital opportunistically while minimizing market disruption [4]. - The CFO of OKYO Pharma emphasized that this transition enhances financial flexibility to support ongoing clinical development and corporate objectives without committing to a fixed equity raise [5]. Group 3: Financial Terms - Leerink Partners will receive a commission of 3% of gross proceeds from any shares sold under the ATM program [6].

Core Insights - OKYO Pharma Limited has transitioned its At-The-Market (ATM) equity offering facility to Leerink Partners LLC, enhancing its ability to access capital markets efficiently [1][2] - The new partnership with Leerink Partners is expected to provide financial flexibility to support ongoing clinical development, particularly for its lead candidate urcosimod for neuropathic corneal pain [2] Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases, with shares listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market [4] - The company recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of urcosimod and plans to initiate a Phase 2b/3 multiple-dose study involving approximately 150 subjects in the first half of the year [4]

Core Insights - OKYO Pharma Limited has transitioned its At-The-Market (ATM) equity offering facility to Leerink Partners LLC, enhancing its ability to access capital markets efficiently [1][2] - The new partnership with Leerink Partners is expected to provide financial flexibility to support ongoing clinical development, particularly for its lead candidate urcosimod for neuropathic corneal pain [2] Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases, with shares listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market [4] - The company recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of urcosimod and plans to initiate a Phase 2b/3 multiple-dose study involving approximately 150 subjects in the first half of the year [4]

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 has a team of experienced news journalists who produce independent content across various financial markets [2] Market Focus - Proactive specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - The content delivered includes insights into sectors such as 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 appointed Dr. Flavio Mantelli as Chief Medical Officer, who has extensive experience in ocular surface drug development and previously led the successful launch of Oxervate® [1][2][4] Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases, with shares traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market [14] - The company recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of its drug urcosimod for NCP and plans to initiate a Phase 2b/3 study involving approximately 150 subjects in the first half of 2026 [14] Leadership and Strategy - Dr. Mantelli will oversee the clinical development strategy for urcosimod, aiming to advance it through planned clinical trials and leverage its FDA Fast Track designation [3][12] - The appointment of Dr. Mantelli follows the recent hiring of CEO Robert Dempsey, strengthening the leadership team in ophthalmology [4][12] Product Development - Urcosimod is a lipid-conjugated chemerin peptide agonist that has shown anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects in preclinical models for dry eye disease and neuropathic corneal pain [9] - There are currently no FDA-approved therapies specifically for NCP, highlighting the unmet medical need that urcosimod aims to address [8] Market Context - Neuropathic corneal pain is a chronic condition characterized by severe eye pain and sensitivity, often resulting from damage to corneal sensory nerves, and is inadequately treated with existing medications [8]