Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KPRX) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, and announced a strategic acquisition to expand its pipeline. The company in-licensed exclusive development and commercialization rights, outside of Asia, to KIO-401 (mitucapistat) from Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. KIO-401 is an oral calpain inhibitor intended for the treatment of acute ischemic ophthalmic conditions, specifically Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO).
According to the filing, Kiora is planning a multinational registration clinical trial in patients who have experienced a CRAO. The company has submitted a request to the FDA for orphan drug designation for KIO-401 in CRAO. Additionally, Kiora submitted a Type B pre-IND meeting request to the FDA to begin discussions regarding the investigational new drug application (IND) pathway, trial design, and approvable endpoints.
The company highlighted the existing clinical data for KIO-401. In Japan, a Phase 2a study reported a statistically significant visual-acuity improvement compared with a prospective observational registry (p=0.0398). A subsequent randomized, double-masked Phase 3 study showed a numerical improvement in overall visual-acuity comparison (p=0.0949), with a statistically significant improvement among patients who were legally blind at baseline (p=0.0195).
In other business updates, Kiora announced the out-licensing of development and commercial rights for KIO-301 in South Korea to Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation (CKD). The company also appointed Keith Lane, MBA, former Chief Scientific Officer of Ora, Inc., as Executive Vice President of Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs.
Financially, Kiora ended the third quarter with approximately $16.3 million in cash and short-term investments, compared with $17.1 million as of December 31, 2025. The company recorded $0.6 million in collaboration receivables and $1.6 million in tax and other receivables as of September 30, 2026. Net loss for the third quarter of 2026 was approximately $1.7 million, or $0.28 per basic and diluted share.
