Oct 11, 2025
Boston, USA — Oct. 11th, 2025 — Pleryon Therapeutics (“Pleryon”), a biotechnology company developing innovative polymer-based therapeutics for unmet clinical needs, today announced the appointment of Professor Lyndon Jones and Professor Fiona Stapleton as Scientific Advisors. Their guidance will be instrumental in advancing the clinical development of Pleryon’s dry eye pipeline, including its lead candidate P002.
Professors Jones and Stapleton are internationally recognized leaders in ocular surface disease and clinical research. As Pleryon prepares to initiate a first-in-human clinical trial of P002 in 2026, their expertise will provide critical strategic insight into study design, endpoints, patient selection, and evidence generation.
“We are honored to welcome Professors Jones and Stapleton to our advisory panel,” said Dr. Yu Yu, Founder and CEO of Pleryon Therapeutics. “Their guidance will be invaluable as we transition our breakthrough polymer-based therapy into the clinic, ensuring our strategy aligns with the highest scientific and clinical standards to address unmet patient needs.”
“Dry eye disease remains a significant burden for patients and clinicians,” said Professor Lyndon Jones. “I’m excited to advise Pleryon on translating P002’s into a rigorous clinical strategy that reflects real-world needs. The company’s focus on mimicking the eye’s natural lubricating mechanisms with a novel synthetic polymer is compelling.”
Professor Fiona Stapleton added, “There is a clear opportunity to improve both signs and symptoms in dry eye disease. Pleryon’s polymer technology platform represents a differentiated strategy. I look forward to working with the team on meaningful clinical outcomes and helping bring a new therapy to patients.”
Advisor Biographies
Professor Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCAHS, FAAO, FCOptom — Professor at the University of Waterloo and former Director of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE). A leading authority in ocular surface and contact lens science, he has authored over 500 publications and delivered over 1,200 invited lectures in 40+ countries. His research program has attracted over $100M in grant and contract funding. He has been awarded over 40 national and international awards.
Professor Fiona Stapleton, PhD, MCOptom, FAAO — Professor at the School of Optometry & Vision Science, UNSW Sydney. An expert in the epidemiology and clinical science of corneal infection, dry eye, and contact lens–related disease, she has over 300 peer-reviewed publications and serves on multiple editorial boards, and is a past President of the International Society for Contact Lens Research (ISCLR).
About Dry Eye Disease and P002
Dry eye disease is a major global unmet need, impacting over 300 million patients. Existing therapies had significant limitations including low patient satisfaction rate, highlighting the urgent demand for more effective options. The global dry eye market exceeds $5 billion, reflecting its substantial commercial potential.
P002 is a synthetic polymer-based eye drop inspired by the structure of the natural glycoprotein lubricin. Leveraging Pleryon’s proprietary polymer engineering platform, P002 is designed to mimic the core structure and function of natural lubricin, providing long-acting boundary lubrication and protection to the ocular surface. Preclinical studies have demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety profiles across multiple in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, the manufacturing process is robust and readily scalable to support late-stage development and commercialization.
Pleryon aims to commence first-in-human trial for P002 in 2026.
About Pleryon Therapeutics
Pleryon Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to addressing severe unmet medical needs through a pioneering polymer engineering platform. The company is developing first-in-class polymer-based therapeutics for conditions such as osteoarthritis and dry eye disease. With a team of industry veterans and a global network of partners, Pleryon is advancing a pipeline of novel candidates, with plans to initiate first-in-human trials for its lead programs in 2026. Pleryon is backed by leading life science investors, including Lapam Capital and Efung Capital.
Advisors & Affiliations
Academic titles and institutional affiliations are provided for identification purposes only; the universities do not endorse Pleryon or its programs.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding the development, safety, efficacy, and potential benefits of P002 and the timing of clinical trials. Actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties inherent in pharmaceutical product development. Pleryon undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law.
Media Contact
Pleryon Therapeutics