OKYO Pharma Ltd (LSE:OKYO, NASDAQ:OKYO) has appointed Dr Jay Pepose, founder and medical director of the Pepose Vision Institute and Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Washington University School of Medicine, to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).
Pepose, a renowned ophthalmologist with expertise in the medical and surgical treatment of ocular surface diseases, will play a pivotal role in guiding OKYO's clinical programme for its dry eye disease (DED) treatment, OK-101. The company plans to open its phase II trial of OK-101 to enrolment this quarter.
OKYO's chief executive, Gary Jacob, said: "Dr Pepose's extensive experience and expertise in the field of ophthalmology make him an ideal choice to help us raise the profile of OK-101 and educate the clinical community about its potential to treat DED."
Pepose has nearly four decades of experience as a treating physician and a widely published researcher.
He has served as an investigator on over 30 studies evaluating new therapeutics and technology in various ophthalmic indications, including dry eye, and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles.
"In animal models, OK-101's ability to reduce ocular pain, suppress ocular inflammation, and normalise goblet cell density make it an attractive candidate to further evaluate in clinical trials of dry eye disease," said Pepose.