OKYO Pharma’s Lead Asset OK-101 Receives US Adopted Name “urcosimod”

OKYO Pharma has announced that its lead investigational asset, OK-101, has been officially assigned the United States Adopted Name (USAN) “urcosimod.” This designation represents a significant milestone in the development of urcosimod as a potential therapeutic for ocular conditions such as neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease.

What is the USAN Program?

The USAN program, managed jointly by the American Medical Association (AMA), the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), assigns unique nonproprietary names to pharmaceutical substances. This ensures clear and consistent communication within the medical community.

Urcosimod: A Modulator of Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pathways

The suffix “-mod” in urcosimod signifies its classification as a modulator of critical inflammatory and neuropathic pathways, which are central to treating various ocular conditions.

Urcosimod is a lipid-conjugated chemerin peptide agonist of the ChemR23 G-protein coupled receptor, found on immune cells in the eye that mediate inflammatory responses.

Clinical Development and Future Plans

Gary S. Jacob, PhD, CEO of OKYO Pharma, emphasized the importance of this milestone:

"We are thrilled to announce that OK-101 has been granted the name urcosimod, marking an important step in its development as a therapeutic option for patients suffering from serious ocular conditions," said Jacob.

Urcosimod is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial for neuropathic corneal pain, a condition with significant unmet medical need. This trial, which began in October 2024, is expected to report top-line results in Q4 2025.

This follows the promising results from a prior Phase 2 trial of urcosimod for dry eye disease, where the drug demonstrated strong pain-reducing effects and a favorable safety profile.

Advancing Treatment for Ocular Diseases

With the USAN designation and ongoing clinical trials, urcosimod is poised to become a promising therapeutic option for patients suffering from neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease, addressing unmet needs in ophthalmic care and reinforcing OKYO Pharma’s commitment to innovative treatments in eye health.