Abstract on ZETA-1 Study of APX3330 Receives Award at Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) Summer Symposium

ZETA-1 abstract rated as one of top three scoring abstracts out of nearly 600 submissions at WIO and received an award distinction

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Aug. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocuphire Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCUP), a clinical-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing small-molecule therapies for the treatment of retinal and refractive eye disorders, today announced that data from its Phase 2 clinical trial of APX3330 in Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) were featured in an oral presentation on Saturday, August 26^th at the Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium, in Marco Island, Florida.

The presentation “ZETA-1 Phase 2 Trial Safety and Tolerability Results for APX3330: A Novel, Oral Ref-1 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy” was delivered by Priya Vakharia M.D., vitreo-retina specialist at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida. The abstract received the Joanne Angle Abstract of Distinction Award out of nearly 600 submissions.

“I am honored to receive the prestigious Joanne Angle Abstract of Distinction award from WIO for this abstract on ZETA-1 data, and to have the opportunity to share these important data with my fellow ophthalmologists,” said Priya Vakharia M.D. “In the ZETA-1 trial, APX3330 achieved statistical significance in preventing clinically meaningful progression of diabetic retinopathy, as measured by the percentage of subjects with binocular 3-step worsening in Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (DRSS). DR is a common cause of blindness; however, the majority of NPDR patients are not actively treated today because of the burden of invasive anti-VEGF treatments. If approved, APX3330 can allow us to intervene early in the disease and prevent vision-threatening complications.”

Rick Rodgers, Interim CEO of Ocuphire added. “I would like to thank WIO and Dr. Vakharia for the opportunity to present our ZETA-1 data at this year’s Summer Symposium APX3330 is a non-invasive convenient oral therapy that has demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability with compelling potential to slow progression of DR. We believe that, if approved, APX3330 could fundamentally shift the treatment paradigm in DR and allow for a broad prescriber base to manage the disease. We look forward to our forthcoming End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA later this year and intend to confirm our Phase 3 registration endpoint and path to a potential approval.”