Palatin Presents Promising Preclinical Data for Melanocortin Agonist PL9588 at ARVO 2025, Highlighting a Dual-Action Glaucoma Therapy
Palatin Technologies (NYSE American: PTN) presented new preclinical data for PL9588, their novel melanocortin receptor agonist, at the 2025 ARVO Annual Meeting. The data demonstrates PL9588's potential as a dual-action glaucoma therapy that both reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) and provides neuroprotection.
Key findings show that PL9588 increases fluid movement through the trabecular meshwork (p<0.05) and reduces retinal cell stress/death by ~25% in damaged retinas (p<0.05). The compound also decreased retinal ganglion cell death in an ischemia/reperfusion model (p<0.0001).
The global glaucoma market, valued at $5.71 billion in 2021, is projected to reach $9.77 billion by 2030. Glaucoma affects approximately 79.6 million people worldwide (2020) and is a leading cause of preventable vision loss.
Palatin Technologies (NYSE American: PTN) ha presentato nuovi dati preclinici su PL9588, il loro nuovo agonista del recettore melanocortinico, al Congresso Annuale ARVO 2025. I dati evidenziano il potenziale di PL9588 come terapia per il glaucoma a doppia azione, capace sia di ridurre la pressione intraoculare (PIO) sia di offrire neuroprotezione.
I risultati principali mostrano che PL9588 aumenta il flusso di liquido attraverso il trabecolato (p<0,05) e riduce lo stress e la morte delle cellule retiniche di circa il 25% nelle retine danneggiate (p<0,05). Il composto ha inoltre ridotto la morte delle cellule gangliari retiniche in un modello di ischemia/riperfusione (p<0,0001).
Il mercato globale del glaucoma, valutato 5,71 miliardi di dollari nel 2021, è previsto raggiungere i 9,77 miliardi di dollari entro il 2030. Il glaucoma colpisce circa 79,6 milioni di persone nel mondo (2020) ed è una delle principali cause di perdita della vista prevenibile.
Palatin Technologies (NYSE American: PTN) presentó nuevos datos preclínicos sobre PL9588, su novedoso agonista del receptor de melanocortina, en la Reunión Anual ARVO 2025. Los datos muestran el potencial de PL9588 como terapia para el glaucoma de doble acción, que reduce la presión intraocular (PIO) y ofrece neuroprotección.
Los hallazgos clave indican que PL9588 aumenta el movimiento de fluido a través de la malla trabecular (p<0,05) y reduce el estrés y la muerte de células retinianas en aproximadamente un 25% en retinas dañadas (p<0,05). El compuesto también disminuyó la muerte de células ganglionares retinianas en un modelo de isquemia/reperfusión (p<0,0001).
El mercado global del glaucoma, valorado en 5,71 mil millones de dólares en 2021, se proyecta alcanzar los 9,77 mil millones para 2030. El glaucoma afecta a aproximadamente 79,6 millones de personas en todo el mundo (2020) y es una de las principales causas de pérdida de visión prevenible.
Palatin Technologies (NYSE American: PTN)는 2025년 ARVO 연례 회의에서 PL9588이라는 새로운 멜라노코르틴 수용체 작용제에 대한 전임상 데이터를 발표했습니다. 이 데이터는 PL9588이 안압(IOP)을 낮추고 신경 보호 효과를 제공하는 이중 작용 녹내장 치료제로서의 잠재력을 보여줍니다.
주요 결과로 PL9588이 섬유주를 통한 체액 이동을 증가시키고(p<0.05), 손상된 망막에서 망막 세포 스트레스 및 사멸을 약 25% 감소시켰습니다(p<0.05). 또한 허혈/재관류 모델에서 망막 신경절 세포 사멸도 감소시켰습니다(p<0.0001).
2021년 기준 57억 1천만 달러 규모의 글로벌 녹내장 시장은 2030년까지 97억 7천만 달러에 이를 것으로 예상됩니다. 녹내장은 전 세계 약 7,960만 명(2020년 기준)이 앓고 있으며 예방 가능한 시력 상실의 주요 원인 중 하나입니다.
Palatin Technologies (NYSE American : PTN) a présenté de nouvelles données précliniques sur PL9588, leur nouvel agoniste du récepteur de la mélanocortine, lors de la réunion annuelle ARVO 2025. Ces données démontrent le potentiel de PL9588 en tant que traitement à double action du glaucome, réduisant à la fois la pression intraoculaire (PIO) et offrant une neuroprotection.
Les résultats clés montrent que PL9588 augmente le flux de liquide à travers le réseau trabéculaire (p<0,05) et réduit le stress et la mort des cellules rétiniennes d'environ 25 % dans les rétines endommagées (p<0,05). Le composé a également diminué la mort des cellules ganglionnaires rétiniennes dans un modèle d'ischémie/reperfusion (p<0,0001).
Le marché mondial du glaucome, évalué à 5,71 milliards de dollars en 2021, devrait atteindre 9,77 milliards de dollars d'ici 2030. Le glaucome touche environ 79,6 millions de personnes dans le monde (2020) et est une cause majeure de perte de vision évitable.
Palatin Technologies (NYSE American: PTN) stellte auf der ARVO-Jahrestagung 2025 neue präklinische Daten zu PL9588, ihrem neuartigen Melanocortin-Rezeptor-Agonisten, vor. Die Daten zeigen das Potenzial von PL9588 als dual wirkende Glaukomtherapie, die sowohl den Augeninnendruck (IOD) senkt als auch neuroprotektiv wirkt.
Wesentliche Ergebnisse zeigen, dass PL9588 den Flüssigkeitsfluss durch das Trabekelwerk erhöht (p<0,05) und den Stress sowie den Zelltod in geschädigten Netzhautzellen um etwa 25 % reduziert (p<0,05). Die Verbindung verringerte außerdem den Zelltod der retinalen Ganglienzellen in einem Ischämie/Reperfusion-Modell (p<0,0001).
Der globale Glaukommarkt, der 2021 auf 5,71 Milliarden US-Dollar geschätzt wurde, soll bis 2030 auf 9,77 Milliarden US-Dollar wachsen. Glaukom betrifft weltweit etwa 79,6 Millionen Menschen (2020) und ist eine der führenden Ursachen für vermeidbaren Sehverlust.
- Novel dual-action mechanism addressing both IOP reduction and neuroprotection
- Statistically significant results in preclinical trials (p<0.05 for fluid movement, p<0.0001 for cell death reduction)
- Targeting large market opportunity ($9.77B by 2030)
- Addresses unmet need in glaucoma treatment beyond current IOP-focused therapies
- Still in preclinical stage, requiring extensive clinical trials before potential approval
- Will face competition in established glaucoma market
Insights
Palatin's PL9588 shows dual glaucoma benefits in preclinical studies: IOP reduction and neuroprotection - a novel approach addressing current treatment limitations.
PL9588 represents an innovative approach to glaucoma treatment through its dual-action mechanism targeting both elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and neurodegeneration. The preclinical data presented at ARVO 2025 demonstrates two distinct beneficial effects: increased fluid movement through the trabecular meshwork (reducing IOP, p<0.05) and approximately
This dual approach addresses a limitation in current glaucoma therapeutics, which primarily focus on pressure reduction while many patients still experience vision loss despite treatment. By activating melanocortin receptors 1 and 5, PL9588 leverages natural resolution pathways involved in inflammation, immune response, and tissue repair.
The statistically significant results provide scientific rationale for continuing development, though the path from preclinical to approved therapy involves multiple stages of clinical testing. The topical administration route mentioned would be favorable for patient compliance if efficacy is maintained in human studies. The mechanism of increasing aqueous outflow targets a fundamental aspect of IOP regulation, while the neuroprotective effects could potentially address the underlying neurodegenerative component of glaucoma.
Palatin advances PL9588 toward clinical trials with promising preclinical data in glaucoma, targeting a projected $9.77B market with a dual-mechanism approach.
Palatin's advancement of PL9588 represents a positive pipeline development for this melanocortin-focused company. The global glaucoma market presents a substantial opportunity, valued at
The dual-action mechanism (IOP reduction plus neuroprotection) addresses a stated unmet need in glaucoma treatment. As Dr. Raizman notes in the release, "many patients still experience vision loss despite treatment" with current options that focus solely on pressure reduction.
The statistical significance of the preclinical findings (p<0.05 for outflow increase and p<0.05 for reduced retinal cell death) provides scientific validation for the approach, though these results will need to be replicated in human studies. While the company indicates plans to move forward into clinical development, the release does not specify timelines for these next steps.
PL9588 aligns with Palatin's strategic focus on melanocortin receptor therapies across multiple indications. The company positions itself as "leading innovation in melanocortin science," suggesting this program fits within their core expertise. For context, the development of novel glaucoma therapies typically requires substantial investment across multiple clinical trial phases before potential commercialization.
- Topical melanocortin therapy shows promise for treating glaucoma
- PL9588 lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) by increasing aqueous outflow
- Demonstrates neuroprotection independent of IOP reduction
- Supports continued development of PL9588 as a novel, dual-action glaucoma therapy
The poster, titled "Activation of the Melanocortin System Increases Aqueous Outflow, Reduces Intraocular Pressure (IOP), and Protects Neurons in Glaucoma Models," was presented on May 4 by Dr. Alison Obr of Palatin. The full poster is available at www.palatin.com.
"Palatin is leading innovation in melanocortin science," said Carl Spana, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Palatin. "Unlike current treatments that only lower intraocular pressure, PL9588 both reduces IOP and provides direct neuroprotection. This dual-action profile positions it as a potentially transformative therapy for glaucoma, and we are excited to move it forward into clinical development."
Key Preclinical Findings for PL9588:
- Reduces intraocular pressure via aqueous outflow mechanism
- Increased fluid movement through the trabecular meshwork (TM) (p<0.05)
- Provides retinal neuroprotection independent of IOP lowering
- Reduced retinal cell stress/death by ~
25% in damaged retinas (p<0.05) - Decreased retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model (p<0.0001)
- Reduced retinal cell stress/death by ~
- Supports dual-action in Glaucoma
- Combines pressure reduction and neuronal protection
- Clear mechanism of action supports further development
"Most current glaucoma therapies focus solely on lowering intraocular pressure," said Michael Raizman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Palatin. "Yet many patients still experience vision loss despite treatment. There remains a significant unmet need for therapies that go beyond pressure reduction — particularly those that can protect retinal neurons. PL9588 has the potential to address this critical gap."
These findings position PL9588 as a potential next-generation candidate in the evolving landscape of glaucoma therapeutics.
About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a progressive, often pressure-related disease that damages the optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness. It affects approximately 79.6 million people worldwide (2020) and is a leading cause of preventable vision loss. Most therapies today reduce IOP but lack neuroprotective effects.
According to Polaris Market Research, the global glaucoma market was valued at
About PL9588
PL9588 is a synthetic peptide that activates melanocortin receptors 1 and 5 (MC1R and MC5R). It is being developed as a topical treatment for glaucoma, targeting both IOP reduction and retinal cell protection.
About Melanocortin Receptor System
The melanocortin receptor (MCR) system plays a critical role in regulating inflammation, immune response, and tissue repair. MCR agonists have shown promise in restoring tissue homeostasis in ocular, gastrointestinal, and renal diseases. By activating natural resolution pathways, PL9588 and other melanocortin agonists represent a new class of anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective therapeutics.
About Palatin
Palatin is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor systems, with targeted, receptor-specific product candidates for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential. Palatin's strategy is to develop products and then form marketing collaborations to maximize their commercial potential. For additional information regarding Palatin, please visit Palatin's website at www.Palatin.com and follow Palatin on Twitter at @PalatinTech.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about future expectations of Palatin Technologies, Inc., such as statements about Palatin products in development, clinical trial results, potential actions by regulatory agencies, regulatory plans, development programs, proposed indications for product candidates, and market potential for product candidates are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Palatin intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Palatin's actual results to be materially different from its historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Palatin's actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements for reasons including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials, regulatory actions by the FDA and other regulatory and the need for regulatory approvals, Palatin's ability to fund development of its technology and establish and successfully complete clinical trials, the length of time and cost required to complete clinical trials and submit applications for regulatory approvals, products developed by competing pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, commercial acceptance of Palatin's products, and other factors discussed in Palatin's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Palatin is not responsible for updating events that occur after the date of this press release.
Palatin Technologies® is a registered trademark of Palatin Technologies, Inc.
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