Core Insights - Biotech companies experienced significant gains in after-hours trading, driven by investor interest despite limited news catalysts [1] Company Updates - GH Research PLC (GHRS) saw the largest increase, rising 22.36% to $16.20 ahead of a key update on its Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for GH001 with the FDA, scheduled for January 5, 2026 [2] - Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PHAT) increased by 5.03% to $16.50, with the rise attributed to investor positioning rather than new announcements [3] - Forte Biosciences, Inc. (FBRX) gained 3.56%, closing at $24.45, continuing its upward trend in the biotech sector without any new updates [3] - OKYO Pharma Limited (OKYO) advanced 5.38% to $2.35, influenced by prior disclosures regarding share acquisitions by its Executive Chairman [4] - Zai Lab Limited (ZLAB) rose 5.60% to $18.30, reflecting ongoing investor interest in international biotech firms [5] - LifeMD, Inc. (LFMD) added 3.15% to $3.60, with no corporate updates released [5] - Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc. (HOWL) climbed 3.58% to $0.67, indicating speculative interest in smaller-cap biotech stocks [6] - Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CRVS) increased by 7.24% to $7.85, extending its upward momentum without any new announcements [6]

LONDON and NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (NASDAQ: OKYO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company which is developing urcosimod to treat neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), an ocular condition associated with chronic and often severe nerve-related pain but without an FDA-approved therapy, announced that Executive Chairman and Founder, Gabriele Cerrone and the OKYO management team will ring the Opening Bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square, New York today. The ceremony ...

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, ...

Patients treated with 0.05% urcosimod demonstrated directionally favorable improvements in nerve fiber count and fiber length, trends not observed in the placebo groupThese findings suggest that urcosimod may have a positive impact on corneal nerve health in patients with neuropathic corneal painCorneal nerve imaging data from the Phase 2 NCP trial were analyzed using in vivo confocal microscopy LONDON and NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (NASDAQ: OKYO), a clinical-stage bioph ...

Core Insights - OKYO Pharma Limited is focused on developing urcosimod for treating neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), a condition with no FDA-approved therapy [1][3][4] - The company will present at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) XV, highlighting its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in the ophthalmic field [1][2][4] Company Overview - OKYO Pharma Limited is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company listed on NASDAQ, dedicated to innovative therapies for NCP and dry eye disease [7] - The company is advancing urcosimod through clinical trials, including a recent Phase 2 trial that demonstrated promising results [3][6][7] Product Details - Urcosimod is a lipidated peptide designed to treat NCP, showing anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects in previous trials [3][6] - The drug is currently being evaluated in a multi-center clinical trial involving 120 patients, following positive top-line results from an earlier Phase 2 trial [3][4] Industry Context - The Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) XV is a key event for stakeholders in the eye care field, focusing on advancements in ophthalmic innovation [2] - The summit provides a platform for networking and sharing insights among innovators, investors, and clinicians [2]

Core Insights - OKYO Pharma Limited is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain and inflammatory eye diseases, with a lead investigational candidate, urcosimod [1][6]. Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is listed on NASDAQ and is dedicated to discovering and developing novel molecules for treating ocular diseases, particularly neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease [6]. - The company recently completed a Phase 2 clinical trial for urcosimod, which is currently being evaluated for its efficacy in treating neuropathic corneal pain [6]. Clinical Development - Urcosimod, a lipid conjugated chemerin peptide agonist, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects in preclinical models and has shown statistical significance in multiple endpoints during a 240-patient Phase 2 trial for dry eye disease [5]. - A recent Phase 2 trial involving 17 patients with neuropathic corneal pain has just been completed, indicating progress in the clinical development of urcosimod [5][6]. Upcoming Events - The CEO of OKYO Pharma, Dr. Gary S. Jacob, will present at the 33rd Annual BIO-Europe partnering conference in Vienna, Austria, scheduled for November 3-5, 2025, where he will discuss the company's advancements and clinical milestones [2][3].

Company Overview - OKYO Pharma Limited is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease, with its ordinary shares listed on NASDAQ [3] - The company is developing urcosimod, a novel drug candidate aimed at treating neuropathic corneal pain, which currently lacks an FDA-approved therapy [1][3] Product Development - Urcosimod, formerly known as OK-101, is a lipid conjugated chemerin peptide agonist targeting the ChemR23 G-protein coupled receptor, which is involved in the inflammatory response in the eye [2] - The drug has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects in preclinical models and has shown statistical significance in multiple endpoints during a completed Phase 2 trial for dry eye disease [2] - A recent randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked Phase 2 trial for urcosimod to treat neuropathic corneal pain has also been completed [2][3] Recent Developments - Gabriele Cerrone, the Executive Chairman of OKYO, has increased his holdings in the company by acquiring an additional 210,000 shares, bringing his total to 10,382,677 shares [1]

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team specializes in medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive has a global presence with bureaus and studios in key finance and investing hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2][3] Group 2 - The company employs technology to enhance workflows and has a forward-looking approach to technology adoption [4] - Proactive utilizes automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Viewpoint - OKYO Pharma Limited is advancing the clinical development of urcosimod, a drug aimed at treating neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), following promising results from a Phase 2 trial that showed significant pain reduction in patients [1][3][5] Group 1: Clinical Development - The company plans to initiate a multiple-ascending-dose (MAD) clinical trial to further evaluate urcosimod, with topline data expected in 2026 [3][4] - The Phase 2 trial conducted at Tufts Medical Center involved 17 patients and demonstrated that 75% of those receiving 0.05% urcosimod experienced over 80% pain reduction [2][3][7] - OKYO is negotiating with several leading U.S. clinical sites for the upcoming MAD trial, which aims to enroll approximately 100 NCP patients [3][8] Group 2: Regulatory Pathway - Urcosimod has received Fast-Track designation from the FDA, which is anticipated to facilitate a quicker registration process [4][5] - The company is preparing for a meeting with the FDA to discuss the requirements for an approvable drug and to define the primary endpoint for potential registration [4][5] Group 3: Product Information - Urcosimod is a lipid-conjugated chemerin peptide agonist designed to treat ocular diseases by targeting immune cells and neurons involved in inflammation and pain [9] - The drug has shown anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects in preclinical models and has completed a Phase 2 trial for both dry eye disease and NCP [9][10] Group 4: Company Overview - OKYO Pharma Limited is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease, with its shares traded on NASDAQ [10]

Core Insights - OKYO Pharma Ltd has announced significant topline data from its Phase 2 trial of urcosimod for treating neuropathic corneal pain, a condition with no FDA-approved treatments [1][4][11] - The trial was randomized, placebo-controlled, and involved 48 patients, with confocal microscopy used to confirm the presence of neuropathic pain [1][8][10] - The study was halted early after 17 patients completed 12 weeks of treatment due to notable pain reduction in those receiving urcosimod topically [2][10] Company Overview - OKYO Pharma is pioneering the development of the first drug specifically targeting neuropathic corneal pain, which is described as severe nerve pain comparable to having a spinal cord injury in the eye [5][11] - The company has received fast track designation from the FDA, allowing for an accelerated development process towards drug approval [11][12] Clinical Trial Details - The Phase 2 trial commenced in October and was designed to ensure that participants had neuropathic pain rather than inflammatory pain [8][9] - The decision to stop the trial early was made to assess the drug's effectiveness sooner, with the aim of moving forward with discussions with the FDA based on the preliminary data [10][12][13] Future Steps - Following the positive data from the trial, the company plans to approach the FDA to discuss the next stages of development for urcosimod [11][12] - The urgency in halting the trial early reflects the company's commitment to addressing the needs of patients suffering from a condition with no current approved treatments [14]