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Aerpio initiates phase 1 trial of AKB-9778 for primary open-angle glaucoma

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The first subject has been dosed in a phase 1b trial of the primary open-angle glaucoma treatment candidate AKB-9778, according to a press release from Aerpio Pharmaceuticals.

AKB-9778 binds to and inhibits vascular endothelial protein tyrosine phosphatase, a negative regulator of Tie2, the release said.

The multiple-ascending dose, double-masked trial will include four cohorts of 12 subjects who will receive increasing daily doses of topical AKB-9778 or placebo for 7 days. Ocular safety and tolerability are the primary endpoints of the trial.

“We have recently shown in animal models that topical ocular dosing of AKB-9778 lowers IOP via its action on Schlemm’s canal, and in two sequential phase 2 clinical studies, we have shown that subcutaneous administration of AKB-9778 significantly reduced IOP in ocular normotensive patients,” Kevin Peters, MD, Aerpio chief scientific officer, said in the release. “Based on these data, we believe that AKB-9778 could provide a novel and differentiated approach to treating POAG and the first approach that directly affects Schlemm’s canal.”

Study results are expected by the end of the year.