Okyo aims to complete eye disease trials before June

Okyo Pharma Limited reported on Wednesday that its preclinical studies of non-opioid painkiller BAM8 are expected to complete within the second quarter of the year.

BMA8, which is developed from bovine painkillers secreted into the adrenal gland, is being studied as a non-opioid treatment for ocular and uveitis associated pain, which is an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.

A statement from Okyo said: "Currently opioids are the most common therapy to treat pain, however, addiction to opioid medication has created a worldwide epidemic. BAM8 peptides exhibiting potent analgesic activity have the potential to be developed as non-opioid analgesics for treating symptoms of neuropathic chronic pain, ocular pain and uveitis associated pain."

The AIM traded company said it is also developing its lead molecule, OKYO 0101, which it thinks has "therapeutic potential" in treating dry eye disease, uveitis, and ocular pain, with an investigational new drug submission for the drug targeted for the first quarter of 2020.

Its focus remains on novel therapeutics for eye diseases of high unmet need and non-opioid analgesics, where the company claims a large market potential exists.

Okyo Pharma's shares were down 1.79% at 1.37p at 1625 GMT.