Yahoo · Oct 6, 2026
OKYO Pharma Begins Phase 3 NEPTUNE Trial of Urcosimod for Neuropathic Corneal Pain
OKYO Pharma’s CEO Robert Dempsey joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce a major clinical development milestone, with the first patients enrolled in the company’s Phase 3 NEPTUNE trial evaluating urcosimod as a potential treatment for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP). The first patients have been enrolled at a clinical site in Nashville in the United States, marking the formal start of the late-stage study. Additional clinical sites are expected to participate across the U.S. and Europe, including locations in Italy, Spain and France. The NEPTUNE trial — Neuropathic Eye Pain Treatment with Urcosimod & Nerve Evaluation — is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of urcosimod in patients suffering from neuropathic corneal pain, a chronic condition associated with severe eye pain and sensitivity. Participants in the study will receive four doses of urcosimod per day over a 12-week treatment period. The primary efficacy endpoint will assess the change from baseline to the end of treatment in ocular pain, measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Neuropathic corneal pain can be a debilitating condition characterized by persistent or severe pain and sensitivity affecting the eyes and, in some cases, the surrounding face or head. The condition is believed to be associated with damage or dysfunction of the sensory nerves within the cornea and may also involve inflammatory processes. NCP can occur in association with a range of underlying ocular conditions, with patients sometimes experiencing pain that is significantly greater than would be expected based on observable clinical findings. The lack of FDA-approved treatment options specifically for neuropathic corneal pain highlights the significant unmet medical need in this area. OKYO is developing urcosimod with the goal of addressing the underlying disease mechanisms associated with NCP rather than focusing solely on symptom relief. The start of the NEPTUNE trial represents an important transition for OKYO as the company moves its urcosimod program into Phase 3 development and begins generating the late-stage clinical evidence that could potentially support future regulatory submissions. The company is now working to activate additional sites across leading medical centers in the United States and Europe, with the broader clinical network expected to support patient recruitment as the trial progresses. #proactiveinvestors #okyopharmalimited #nasdaq #okyo #Urcosimod #NeuropathicCornealPain #HealthcareInnovation #ClinicalDevelopment #NeuroInflammation #CornealDisease #Pharmaceuticals #MedTech #DrugDevelopment
