Kuria Therapeutics Awarded NIH/NEI SBIR Fast Track Phase I/II Grant to Advance IND-Enabling Toxicology Studies of SCO-116 for Corneal Endothelial Disease and Injury

Award supports IND-directed toxicology studies of first-in-class topical NRF2 activator aimed at treating patients across all stages of Fuchs’ dystrophy and those undergoing cataract surgery

Kuria Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics for ophthalmic disease, today announced that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fast Track Phase I/II grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This award will provide up to $2.3M to support Investigational New Drug (IND)–enabling toxicology studies for Kuria’s lead topical NRF2 activator eyedrop, designed to treat corneal endothelial disease and injury, including Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Fuchs’ is a degenerative disease of the corneal endothelium that affects millions worldwide and remains a leading cause of corneal transplant. Current standards of care focus on surgical intervention in advanced disease; there are no approved pharmacological therapies for patients with Fuchs’. Kuria’s therapy aims to modify disease progression by activating NRF2, a critical cellular defense pathway, restoring corneal endothelial cell function, and delaying or obviating the need for invasive surgery.

“We’re extremely grateful to the NEI for the support that this SBIR Phase II award represents,” said Keith Ward, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Kuria Therapeutics. “This funding advances our IND-directed toxicology program and brings us closer to our goal of delivering a convenient, non‑surgical, disease‑modifying therapy for patients with Fuchs’ dystrophy.”

The SBIR award reinforces the company’s robust pipeline of Nrf2 activators for ocular disease. Completion of the funded studies is expected to form the core of an IND submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to support an initial Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept study in patients with Fuchs’.

About Kuria Therapeutics, Inc.

Kuria Therapeutics, Inc. is a US-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics for ophthalmic disease. 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. For more information, visit www.kuriatx.com.