Kowa Company Ltd, (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan, President & CEO: Yoshihiro Miwa, "Kowa") today announced the results of two clinical studies and a non-clinical study of a drug candidate for glaucoma and ocular hypertension (K-115). The results were presented as three posters at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2011 meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. The results of the two clinical studies can be read as an E-poster on the ARVO 2011 website during and after the conference.
K-115, a Rho kinase inhibitor, lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) by increasing conventional aqueous outflow. Consequently, additive effects are anticipated when K-115 is used in combination with other anti-glaucoma drugs. K-115 will also be developed as monotherapy for glaucoma.
Based on the results of these Phase 2 studies, Kowa will continue its clinical development program in Japan and will initiate Phase 3 studies with the aim of achieving marketing authorization as the world's first Rho kinase inhibitor for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Presentations accepted by ARVO 2011 are as follows:
- Phase 2 clinical pharmacology study: Efficacy and Safety of the Rho Kinase Inhibitor, K-115, over 24 Hours in Patients with Primary Open-angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension (E-Poster Presentation)
- Phase 2 dose-response study: Ocular Hypotensive Dose-response Efficacy and Safety of the Rho Kinase Inhibitor, K-115, in Patients with Primary Open-angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension (E-Poster Presentation)
- Non-clinical study: Ocular Hypotensive Mechanism Of K-115, A Rho-kinase Inhibitor, And Rho-kinase Expression In The Eye
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