Kukje Pharm said Monday that it has signed an agreement with Eyegene to co-develop EG-Mirotin, the world's first treatment for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

According to Kukje, EG-Mirotin is a new-concept biological drug that treats diabetic retinopathy by relieving symptoms of recurrent swelling and bleeding in the capillaries of the retina and normalizing and stabilizing capillaries damaged by diabetes.

Under the agreement, Kukje will apply for a phase 2 investigative new drug (IND) clinical trial and bear the costs associated with clinical drug production and analytical studies required for winning the approval. Eyegene will conduct the phase 2 study of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy based on existing research and development data.

In addition, the companies will establish a Joint Development Committee, in which clinical experts and development specialists will participate to prepare for the start of the trial in Korea as soon as possible.

"The primary goal is to establish an optimal collaboration structure to maximize synergies between Kukje’s capabilities as the steady launcher of various eye diseases treatments, especially retinal disease treatments such as Tagen F and Retium, and the accumulated know-how of Eyegene, which developed the underlying technology, to conduct clinical trials within a short period successfully,” a Kukje official said. “The final goal is the global commercialization of EG-Mirotin.”