Kuria Therapeutics Advances NIH-Funded SBIR Efforts for Lead Ophthalmology Program

Little Rock, AR — Kuria Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing novel small-molecule therapies for ophthalmic diseases, today disclosed that its ongoing National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant has received matching funds from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) through its SBIR Matching Grant Program.

Kuria’s NIH SBIR Fast Track Phase 1/2 award supports development of SCO-116, a novel small-molecule therapy designed to address diseases of the corneal endothelium, including Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy. The grant was awarded in Fall 2025, and two of the three Phase 1 SBIR milestones have already been achieved by work to date on the program. The AEDC matching funds will help support eligible research and development expenses aligned with the federally funded program. 

“We are grateful for the AEDC’s support of Kuria’s NIH-funded program,” said Misty Stevens, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Kuria Therapeutics. “This matching grant further extends the impact of our SBIR award and enables us to advance critical development activities as we work toward IND-enabling studies for our lead ophthalmology program.” 

The AEDC SBIR Matching Grant Program is designed to strengthen innovation-driven small businesses in Arkansas by providing supplemental funding to companies that have secured competitive federal SBIR awards. The program helps amplify the impact of federal research dollars, supports high-growth technology development, and encourages continued investment and job creation within the state.

“The AEDC SBIR Matching Grant Program plays an important role in reinforcing early-stage innovation,” Stevens added. “This support reflects Arkansas’s commitment to fostering biotechnology entrepreneurship and helping emerging companies translate scientific discoveries into meaningful patient impact.”

About the Arkansas SBIR Matching Grant Program

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s SBIR Matching Grant Program provides discretionary matching funds to Arkansas-based companies that receive federal SBIR awards. Grants may cover up to 50 percent of the federal award amount, subject to program limits, and are intended to stimulate innovation, encourage commercialization, and support the growth of technology-driven businesses in Arkansas.

About Kuria Therapeutics

Kuria Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative small-molecule therapies for ophthalmic diseases with significant unmet medical need. The company’s lead programs target diseases of the corneal endothelium, with the goal of providing non-surgical treatment options that preserve vision and improve patient outcomes.

For more information, visit www.kuriatx.com.