TIDMOKYO
RNS Number : 0415M
OKYO Pharma Limited
19 January 2021
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014
OKYO Pharma Limited
("OKYO" or the "Company")
OKYO announces filing of a patent application covering the use
of Chemerin and associated analogues to treat "cytokine storm"
associated with COVID-19 and ARDS
London and Boston, MA, January 19, 2021 - OKYO (LSE: OKYO;
OTCQB: EMMLF), the life sciences and biotechnology company focused
on the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat
inflammatory dry eye diseases and chronic pain, announces that it
has today submitted a patent application for the potential use of
chemerin and chemerin analogues for prophylaxis against and
treatment of symptoms associated with, or resulting from, infection
with SARS-CoV-2 virus, including inflammation due to the cytokine
storm caused by COVID-19 disease ("COVID-19"), and acute
respiratory distress syndrome ("ARDS").
OKYO has been developing the chemerin molecule as a promising
anti-inflammatory treatment for dry-eye disease ("DED") licensed
from researchers at On Target Therapeutics LLC. OKYO has previously
announced that it anticipates making an investigational new drug
submission with the US Food and Drug Administration for the use of
chemerin in the treatment of DED.
"Together with On Target Therapeutics LLC, we have been
exploring chemerin and associated analogues for other potential
therapeutic uses and are now also focusing on chemerin as a novel
approach to treating COVID-19 and ARDS patients," said Dr. Gary S.
Jacob, CEO of OKYO. "We are working aggressively to expand this
COVID-19 work and will be providing progress on this project as
important developments occur."
Dr. Napoleone Ferrara, a member of OKYO's Scientific Advisory
Board, will be spearheading this effort at OKYO to advance chemerin
and its associated analogues for the treatment of patients with
SARS-CoV-2 virus and ARDS. Dr. Ferrara, winner of the prestigious
Lasker award and a member of the National Academy of Sciences USA,
was the scientist who isolated vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF), a discovery that led to the two blockbuster drugs
Lucentis(R) and Avastin(R) (which together accounted for over US$9
billion in sales in 2019) as well as to the class of anti-VEGF
drugs, which are widely used to treat cancer and intraocular
neovascular diseases.
Dr. Ferrara commented: "We are very excited to be working with
our collaborating industry and academic partners to develop this
promising addition to the COVID-19 therapeutic armamentarium and,
of course, to expedite evaluation in patients as soon as possible.
Beyond COVID-19, chemerin, which is a well-established modulator of
inflammation, has promise for treating ARDS, a pathological
condition that may be triggered by a host of insults to the lungs
(e.g., pneumonia, sepsis, pancreatitis and inhalation injury)."
About Chemerin and its receptor: The chemerin receptor
("CMKLR1", also known as ChemR23) is a chemokine like G
protein-coupled receptor ("GPCR") expressed on select populations
of cells, including inflammatory mediators (including macrophages,
monocytes, plasmacytoid/myeloid dendritic cells and natural killer
cells), as well as epithelial cells. Activation of CMKLR1 by its
endogenous peptide ligand chemerin is known to modulate
inflammation, but natural ligands for CMKLR1 have short half-lives
due to rapid inactivation. Discovery of a stable, high potency
CMKLR1 agonist (stable lipidated chemerin) by On Target
Therapeutics LLC provided an important step toward the development
of a new class of anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on
behalf of the Company was Dr. Gary S. Jacob, Chief Executive
Officer of OKYO.
Enquiries:
Gary S. Jacob, Chief Executive
Officer
Gabriele Cerrone, Non-Executive +44 (0)20 7495
OKYO Pharma Limited Chairman 2379
Optiva Securities
Limited +44 (0)20 3981
(Broker) Robert Emmet 4173
RedChip Companies Dave Gentry dave@redchip.com
Inc.
(Investor Relations) +1 407-491-4498
Notes for Editors:
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 chronic pain.
About Dr. Napoleone Ferrara
Dr. Ferrara is a member of The National Academy of Sciences and
has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Lasker
Award and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. His research on
understanding the role of angiogenesis and vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) in cancer development, led to the discovery
that VEGF is a key mediator of angiogenesis associated with
intraocular neovascular syndromes. This pioneering research led to
the clinical development of a humanized anti-VEGF Fab (Ranibizumab,
Lucentis(R)), which has also been approved as a therapy for
neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vein
occlusion and diabetic macular edema. Ranibizumab and other
anti-VEGF agents have had a dramatic impact on the development of
therapies for these blinding disorders. When Lucentis(R)
(Ranibizumab) received FDA approval in late June 2006, the new
macular degeneration drug was celebrated as a major medical
breakthrough. Dr. Ferrara's research also led to the development
and approval of humanized anti-VEGF mAbs (Bevacizumab; Avastin(R))
for cancer treatment, with Avastin(R) being one of the bestselling
cancer drugs over the last two decades. Lucentis(R) and Avastin(R)
collectively achieved over $9 billion in sales in 2019.
.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical
facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations,
estimates, and projections about its industry; its beliefs; and
assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,'
'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject
to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some
of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to
predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.
The Company cautions security holders and prospective security
holders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the
date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in
this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the
statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation
to release publicly any revisions or updates to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or
unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement
except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory
authority.
For further information, please visit the Company's website at
www.okyopharma.com.
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END
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