OKYO Pharma Strengthens Scientific Advisory Board with Ocular Disease Expert
Event summary
- OKYO Pharma appointed Marta Sacchetti, MD, PhD, to its Scientific Advisory Board on May 19, 2026.
- Dr. Sacchetti is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Link University in Rome, Italy.
- She previously served as Global Head of Clinical Development, Ophthalmology & Neurotrophins at Dompé Farmaceutici.
- Urcosimod, OKYO’s lead drug, received Fast Track designation from the FDA for treating neuropathic corneal pain (NCP).
- OKYO plans to initiate a 150-patient Phase 2b/3 trial for urcosimod in the first half of 2026.
The big picture
OKYO Pharma’s appointment of Dr. Sacchetti underscores its focus on strengthening scientific leadership to advance urcosimod, a drug targeting a high-unmet-need condition in ophthalmology. The move aligns with broader industry trends of leveraging specialized advisory boards to navigate complex regulatory pathways and accelerate clinical development. With no FDA-approved therapies for NCP, OKYO’s strategic positioning could attract investor interest as it progresses toward pivotal trials.
What we're watching
- Clinical Development
- The pace at which OKYO advances urcosimod through Phase 2b/3 trials will determine its competitive positioning in the NCP market.
- Regulatory Strategy
- Whether the FDA’s Fast Track designation accelerates urcosimod’s approval timeline and reduces development costs.
- Scientific Influence
- How Dr. Sacchetti’s expertise shapes OKYO’s global clinical strategy for NCP and inflammatory eye diseases.