Huons Receives Approval for Phase 2 Clinical Trial of New Dry Eye Disease Drug in Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Huons announced on the 30th that it has received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the clinical phase 2 trial plan (IND) of the bio-drug candidate for dry eye syndrome, 'HU024'.

In this clinical trial, Huons will verify the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic properties of HU024 in patients with dry eye syndrome. Huons began developing HU024 after licensing thymosin beta-4 from the Chinese biopharmaceutical company 'Northland' in 2015.

HU024 is a bio-drug using the recombinant protein 'thymosin beta-4'. Thymosin beta-4 is an endogenous protein present in the human body that regulates cell growth, migration, and differentiation, providing wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects.

Huons expects that applying this to dry eye syndrome will suppress inflammation of the lacrimal glands, a representative cause of dry eye syndrome, and induce the proliferation of goblet cells that secrete mucous substances such as mucin in the eye, thereby promoting wound healing.

A Huons official stated, "Compared to currently prescribed synthetic drugs, HU024 enables fundamental treatment," adding, "It also has the advantages of rapid therapeutic effect onset and less foreign body sensation."

Um Ki-an, CEO of Huons, said, "If the development of HU024 is successful, it is expected to become an innovative new drug following the nano-composite eye drop 'HU007' for dry eye syndrome treatment," and added, "After confirming efficacy and safety in domestic clinical trials, we will proceed with global clinical trials."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.