OKYO Enrolls First Patients in NEPTUNE Phase 3 Trial for Corneal Pain
Published in Drugs development & discovery.
October 6, 2026 — OKYO Pharma announced enrollment of the first patients in NEPTUNE, its Phase 3 trial of investigational urcosimod for neuropathic corneal pain. Initial enrollment took place at Toyos Clinic in Nashville.
The company plans a multicenter study across the United States and Europe. Participants are to receive four drops per day for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change in ocular pain from baseline to the end of treatment, measured using a visual analogue scale. Additional endpoints include quality-of-life scores and in-vivo confocal microscopy findings.
Urcosimod is a lipid-conjugated peptide agonist of the ChemR23 receptor. OKYO is investigating its potential effects on ocular pain and inflammation.
Starting patient enrollment is a development milestone, not evidence that the treatment works. NEPTUNE must generate the safety and efficacy data needed to assess the therapy, and the announcement does not establish regulatory approval or a disease-modifying benefit.