China-based Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd (HKG: 0950) spin-off Zhaoke Ophthalmology Ltd (HKG: 6622) announced the enrollment of the first patient in a Phase II clinical study for its ZKY001 in transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TPRK), a surgical procedure to treat myopia. ZKY001 is based on a peptide composed of seven amino acids (LQ-7), a functional fragment of thymosin β4, which can bind to actin, a protein playing a central role in cell structure and movement.
Drug Development
ZKY001 is also being developed to treat corneal epithelial healing after endothelial keratoplasty, pterygium (growth on the cornea or conjunctiva), and neurotrophic keratitis (NK). The drug’s mechanism of action involves binding to actin, which is crucial for cell structure and movement, potentially offering therapeutic benefits in various eye conditions.-Fineline Info & Tech
