Jun 4, 2026
Ontario, Canada – [June 4, 2026] – Pleryon Therapeutics (“Pleryon”), a biotechnology company developing innovative polymer-based therapeutics for diseases with high unmet clinical need, today announced that the first participant has been treated in the first-in-human (FIH) clinical trial for dry eye disease. The study is being conducted at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo, following receipt of Health Canada’s Investigational Testing Authorization (ITA) earlier this year.
Dry eye disease is an undertreated condition, impacting over 300 million patients worldwide. Existing dry eye drops are short acting and have low patient satisfaction rates, highlighting the urgent demand for more effective options. Pleryon has developed a synthetic polymer-based eye drop inspired by the structure of lubricin, which is a natural lubricating protein found on the ocular surface. Leveraging its proprietary polymer platform, Pleryon’s team has engineered a unique solution to provide immediate and sustained boundary lubrication to the ocular surface, addressing ocular discomfort in DED patients. Preclinical studies have demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile across multiple in vitro and in vivo models. This first-in-human study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and understand early signals of its mechanism.
“Initiating our first clinical trial marks a monumental milestone for Pleryon and our official transition into a clinical stage company” said Dr. Yu Yu, Founder and CEO. “We are very pleased that this trial is underway and believe our novel approach could meaningfully benefit patients living with dry eye disease”.
About Pleryon Therapeutics
Pleryon Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company dedicated to addressing high unmet medical needs through a pioneering polymer engineering platform. The company is developing first-in-class polymer-based therapeutics for conditions including dry eye disease and osteoarthritis. Pleryon is backed by leading life science investors, including Lapam Capital and Efung Capital.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding the product development, safety, tolerability, potential benefits and the timing of clinical trials. Actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties inherent in product development. Pleryon undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law.
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Pleryon Therapeutics
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