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- PYC Therapeutics (PYC) doses the first patient with drug candidate VP-001, designed to treat blinding eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa Type 11 (RP11)
- The drug candidate is part of a phase one Single Ascending Dose study to assess the safety and tolerability of VP-001
- Initially, the patient had three micrograms of the drug injected into one eye, with a further two patients to be dosed once a four-week safety period is assessed
- VP-001 aims to restore the expression of the PRPF31 gene in patients with the disease to allow for normal functioning of the retina
- Shares last traded at 5.7 cents
PYC Therapeutics (PYC) has dosed the first patient with its drug candidate VP-001, designed to treat blinding eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa Type 11 (RP11).
The drug candidate is part of a phase one Single Ascending Dose study to assess the safety and tolerability of VP-001.
Initially, the patient had three micrograms of the drug injected into one eye, with a further two patients set to be dosed.
All three patients dosed will undergo a four-week safety period, with the data reviewed by the Safety Review Committee to determine whether the next dosing cohort of 10 micrograms could proceed.
VP-001 aims to restore the expression of the PRPF31 gene in patients with the disease to allow for normal functioning of the retina.
RP11 is a blinding eye disease affecting one in every 100,000 people which is caused by an insufficient expression of the PRPF31 gene in the retina.
Currently, there are no treatments for the disease.
The first phase of the trial will be split into three groups of three people, with each being issued a different dose of the drug candidate.
Group one, which has just been dosed, will receive a low dosage of the drug (three micrograms), the second group will be dosed with 10 micrograms, while the final group will be dosed with 30 micrograms, providing the Safety Review Committee approves the safety of the drug after each dose.
After the injection is complete for the highest dosage group, a 24-week safety assessment will be conducted to monitor any potential serious adverse events.
“This is an outstanding milestone for PYC that is the culmination of an incredible amount of scientific nous and hard work from the team,” PYC CEO Dr Rohan Hockings said.
PYC last traded at 5.7 cents.
