OK-101 ameliorates neuropathic corneal pain in a mouse model of ciliary nerve ligation
BAM8-22 peptide analog OK-201 alleviates neuropathic corneal pain in mice
LONDON, April 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (LSE: OKYO; OTCQB: EMMLF), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat inflammatory dry eye diseases and ocular pain, today announced that two presentations will be given on OKYO drug candidates OK-101 and OK-201 at the Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, to be held on May 1-4, 2022 in Denver, CO and virtually on May 11-12, 2022.
The oral presentation will highlight the ability of OK-101, a novel agonist of the chemerin receptor ChemR23, to reduce neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) in a mouse model of ciliary nerve ligation; and the second presentation which will be given as a poster, will present the efficacy data of OK-201, a BAM8-22 peptide analog, in alleviating neuropathic corneal pain in the same mouse model. These studies were conducted in collaboration with Pedram Hamrah, MD, Interim Chair of Ophthalmology, cornea specialist, and clinician-scientist at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA using a mouse model of NCP developed in Dr. Hamrah’s laboratory.
The presentation details are as follows:
Presentation Type: Paper Session
Presentation Number: 1834
Title: OK-101, A Novel Chemerin Receptor Agonist, Ameliorates Neuropathic Corneal Pain in a Mouse Model of Ciliary Nerve Ligation
Presenter: Harris, Deshea, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Presentation Date and Time: May 2, 2022, from 4:08 PM to 4:25 PM MDT
Presentation Type: Poster Session
Posterboard Number: 1227 – A0227
Title: Proenkephalin-derived BAM8-22 peptide analogue alleviates neuropathic corneal pain in mice
Presenter: Ayesha Sultan, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Poster Session Date/Times: May 2, 2022, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM MDT
About OKYO
OKYO Pharma Limited (LSE: OKYO; OTCQB: EMMLF) is a life sciences and biotechnology company admitted to listing on the standard segment of the Official List of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the main market for listed securities of London Stock Exchange plc. OKYO is focusing on the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat inflammatory dry eye diseases and ocular pain.
About Ocular Pain
Ocular pain is one of the most common causes for patient referral to the emergency clinic, with substantial implications to global quality of life and healthcare cost. Millions of people suffer from ocular pain every year with no treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this condition. Side effects and the risk of addiction to opioids is a serious concern. Ocular pain may arise directly from tissue damage at the ocular surface after surgery, injury, infection or from changes to peripheral or central nerves in the ocular surface. Ocular neuropathic pain refers to the increased perception of pain in response to ordinarily non-painful stimuli and is often misdiagnosed as dry eye disease. Current treatments are limited to short term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and oral gabapentin and opioids in severe cases.