OKYO Pharma’s London-listed shares soared on Friday after the biopharmaceutical company announced it has started a trial process for its dry eye disease treatment OK-101.
The company’s lipidated chemerin-peptide drug candidate OK-101 is designed to target a key ocular receptor controlling inflammation and ocular pain.
The upward share movement also comes as it was revealed two recalled eye drop products in the US targeting dry eye disease have been linked to injuries and one death.
EzriCare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, which are both made by Global Pharma, were recalled by the company in February due to potential bacterial contamination.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of March 14, a total of 68 patients in 16 US states have been identified with a rare strain of a drug-resistant bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa which has been linked to the eye drops.
OKYO Pharma shares had added 10% in London on Friday evening.
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