Powering Sight
Kuria is on a mission to preserve vision and restore sight in patients experiencing an array of ophthalmic diseases.
Powering Sight is what we do. With mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress as root causes of blinding diseases, we are preparing cells to fight back and leveraging the body's defense system to do so.
Kuria’s product candidates currently focus on the cornea. Like the windshield in your car, the cornea protects the inside of the eye, but also must be transparent. When corneal cells are damaged, vision becomes distorted, glare or halos occur, and even blindness can result.
Unfortunately, damage to corneal cells is a common occurrence due to various factors. Certain diseases, like Fuchs’ Dystrophy, damage corneal cells. These cells may be damaged by eye surgeries, such as cataract surgery. Chronic conditions such as living with diabetes, being a smoker, and exposure to environmental pollution may also weaken these cells.
Kuria’s solution is to treat those cells already damaged by diseases like Fuchs' dystrophy to improve vision and to strengthen corneal cells so that vision is not threatened by surgery.
KTX-1161: Targeting Corneal Endothelial Dysfunction. KTX-1161 is Kuria Therapeutics’ preservative-free topical ophthalmic formulation of SCO-116, a potent, selective, small-molecule activator of the NRF2 pathway discovered by SCOHIA PHARMA. Kuria holds exclusive worldwide rights to develop locally delivered formulations of SCO-116 for ophthalmic applications.
Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy is characterized by progressive dysfunction and loss of corneal endothelial cells, with both oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction contributing to impaired cellular function, corneal swelling, and loss of vision. By activating NRF2, KTX-1161 is designed not only to enhance endogenous antioxidant defenses, but also to improve mitochondrial function, with the goal of restoring and preserving endothelial pump function, reducing corneal swelling, improving corneal clarity, and ultimately improving vision.
Kuria is advancing KTX-1161 through IND-enabling development for Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy, with an initial Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept study planned following IND clearance.
Program: KTX-1161 / SCO-116 | Indication: Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy | Target: NRF2
Modality: Small molecule | Route: Topical ophthalmic | Stage: IND-enabling
Team
We are a team of seasoned life science executives and entrepreneurs with decades of experience in building biotechnology companies, running complex multi-national development programs, managing alliances with partners, and building relationships with clinicians, investors, vendors, and patient groups.
More importantly, we enjoy working together and with our partners, and we bring a clear focus on what needs to get done to maximize the value of our programs.
Chief Executive Officer
At Kuria we are doers. We tackle each new challenge with a can-do attitude, knowing that our efforts will lead one day to therapies that will allow a mother to read to her son, a grandfather to show his granddaughter his favorite fishing hole, and a newborn to see ten-thousand sunrises.
Chief Operating Officer
I'm focused on healthy living - exercise (a lot of tennis), eating right, and staying connected with others are some of the tools I have right now. Having KTX-1161 available to preserve my vision as I age is one more great tool!
Chief Development Officer
I've seen the powerful biology of NRF2 activation at work, and I'm excited to be applying this approach to diseases of the eye. Our clinical approach, studying both treatment and preventative settings, optimizes our opportunity to make a difference in the lives of patients.
Chief Medical Officer
As someone who has experienced retinal detachments as well as cataract surgery, I am acutely aware of how critical it is to preserve vision. I look forward to using KTX-1161 myself.
Chief Technical Officer
Cataract surgeries and corneal dystrophies accelerate the loss of endothelial cells that keep the cornea clear. I’m excited to be developing ophthalmic medications that will preserve vision for millions by preventing the accelerated loss of these cells.
