Kiora Pharmaceuticals Secures New US Patent to Expand Delivery Options for Eye Drug KIO-104

Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KPRX) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a new patent (US-12,472,263) on additional and novel formulations of the KIO-100 family of compounds, This patent allows for additional delivery options, expanding the potential therapeutic utility of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in KIO-104.

This newly issued patent specifically covers a novel formulation of the API in KIO-104. The API in KIO-104 is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, small molecule inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH). A Phase 2 clinical trial (KLARITY) of KIO-104 for the treatment of retinal inflammation is actively screening and dosing patients.

"We believe DHODH inhibitors have significant potential to slow, stop or reverse inflammatory-related vision loss, where steroids or other biologics are not providing appropriate benefit today," said Brian M. Strem, PhD, President & Chief Executive Officer of Kiora Pharmaceuticals. "KIO-104, our DHODH inhibitor formulated for local delivery into the retina, previously demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept in a Phase 1 trial in non-infectious uveitis. We're now enrolling in a Phase 2 study to evaluate higher doses of KIO-104 in multiple retinal inflammatory conditions including posterior non-infectious uveitis and diabetic macular edema."

The multicenter KLARITY study will investigate KIO-104 in up to 28 patients with macular edema, a condition where inflammation causes a build-up of fluid behind part of the retina and can be associated with adverse vision changes and permanent scarring. KIO-104, as a potent, locally delivered small molecule, could provide a needed alternative to steroids or systemic anti-inflammatory drugs.