Ampio Pharma claimed that Optina is a repurposed oral drug with an established human safety profile. Pre-clinical studies have shown the potential for Optina to reduce diabetic macular edema in patients.
Ampio Pharma has tied up with St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, as a final step for ethics board approval which is expected in the next few days.
Don Wingerter, CEO of Ampio Pharma, said: “We are very excited to be commencing this trial and pending the final approval of the ethics board we will commence patient recruitment in the next weeks.”
David Bar-Or, chief scientific officer of Ampio Pharma, said: “After accumulating in-vitro and animal data, it is gratifying to begin treating patients for this debilitating disease.”