PYC to commence first in human studies for retinal disease

Highlights

• PYC Therapeutics has completed its pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in Non-Human Primates (NHPs) successfully.
• Results from PK studies will aid the progression of PYC’s investigational drug candidate for evaluation in human beings
• The results also confirm the efficiency of PYC’s next-generation RNA technology for curing retinal disease
• PYC will start ‘first in human’ studies after a successful IND

Biotechnology company PYC Therapeutics (ASX: PYC) has shared an upbeat update on results from Pharmacokinetic studies (PK) for treating blinding eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa type 11 (RP11).

The pre-clinical stage biotechnology firm has received encouraging results from PK studies in non-human primates for its investigational drug candidate. The key results support the advancement of its investigational drug candidate into ‘first in human’ assessment for RP11. It also confirms the efficiency of the company’s next-generation RNA technology for curing retinal disease.

PYC combines RNA-based drug design and proprietary drug delivery technology to create a new generation of RNA therapeutics for genetic diseases. The company is employing its proprietary library of naturally derived cell-penetrating peptides to overcome the major difficulties of current genetic medicines.

Demonstrated important drug-like properties

This is the first program in PYC’s pipeline of next-generation RNA therapies, which is advancing towards clinical development. Currently, there are no approved therapies for RP11 and no undergoing clinical trials for investigational units.

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Transition into a clinical-stage company

PYC is well positioned to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its drug candidate in RP11 with the US Food and Drug Administration in the second half of this year. The company has already commenced Good Laboratory Practice toxicology studies required to support this IND.

PYC will start ‘first in human’ studies after a successful IND. This will mark the transition of PYC into a clinical-stage Company with the first product borne out of its next-generation platform for the creation of novel RNA therapeutics.

Stock information: Shares of PYC were trading at AU$0.084, as spotted at 10:52 AM AEST on 10 May 2022.