YD Life Science said it got the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s go-ahead Tuesday to start a phase 2a trial for YD-312, a therapy that treats a complication of diabetes affecting eyes, called diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is an ophthalmologic disorder that causes blurred vision caused by hypoxic conditions of the retina due to diabetic peripheral circulatory disorder, increased vascular permeability, and formation of new blood vessels. Also, the illness is a common complication of diabetes and the risk of onset increases after being diagnosed with of diabetes. As of now, 40 to 50 percent of U.S. diabetes patients are suffering from diabetic retinopathy.

YD-312 is a drug repositioning drug that solves the problem of low vision by inhibiting vascular permeability.

The company estimates that by the time it launches the drug in 2020, the global market size of diabetic retinopathy drugs will reach 8.45 trillion won ($7.5 billion).

“YD-312 has expanded the possibility of entering the global market by completing more than 85 percent of its patent registration in major overseas markets such as the U.S., Europe, Japan and Canada,” YD Life Science CEO Lee Jin-woo said. “We will further develop our ophthalmic disease development capabilities to a global level and will continue to develop innovative new drugs required by the global market.”

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