Kwangdong Pharmaceutical Signs Exclusive Domestic Licensing Agreement with US Ocugen for Retinitis Pigmentosa Gene Therapy Candidate

Kwangdong Pharmaceutical announced on September 17 that it has signed an exclusive domestic licensing agreement with the US-based biotech company Ocugen for "OCU400," a next-generation gene therapy candidate for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa.

Currently, OCU400 is undergoing evaluation in a global Phase 3 clinical trial, and Ocugen aims to submit a regulatory application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) next year. Kwangdong Pharmaceutical plans to proceed with domestic regulatory procedures based on the global clinical results and approval data.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare genetic disease in which the retina is progressively damaged, leading to narrowing of the field of vision and, ultimately, blindness. It is estimated that there are about 7,000 patients in Korea. Through this agreement, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical not only provides patients with a new treatment opportunity but also strengthens its ophthalmology portfolio, alongside existing pipelines for presbyopia and pediatric myopia.

A Kwangdong Pharmaceutical representative said, "We are deeply honored to bring new hope to domestic patients with retinitis pigmentosa," adding, "We will do our utmost to supply the treatment as soon as the clinical trials are completed."

Meanwhile, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical is nurturing ophthalmology as its next growth engine by securing a diverse pipeline, including Brimochol, a candidate for presbyopia treatment; NVK002, a new drug candidate for pediatric myopia; and Raxone, a treatment for rare ophthalmic diseases.

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