Kiora Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KPRX) reports KIO-300 epilepsy model data
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Kiora Pharmaceuticals filed a current report describing new preclinical data for its ion channel modulator platform. The company reported that KIO-300, the active ingredient in its Phase 2 vision restoration drug KIO-301, significantly suppressed seizure-associated electrical activity in an ex vivo temporal lobe epilepsy model.
The effect reduced spontaneous epileptiform event frequency versus vehicle controls and remained during treatment and washout, while broader electrical transmission in brain tissue was preserved. These findings, presented at the Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline Conference, support potential applications of KIO-300 in epilepsy and other neurological disorders beyond ophthalmology.
Positive
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Negative
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8-K Event Classification
2 items: 7.01, 9.01
2 items
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Onset of significant inhibition: 42 minutes
Epileptiform event inhibition p-value: p < 0.0001
Cumulative burden reduction p-value: p < 0.0001
+2 more
5 metrics
Onset of significant inhibition
42 minutes
Time after KIO-300 treatment when epileptiform inhibition became statistically significant
Epileptiform event inhibition p-value
p < 0.0001
Statistical significance for reduced spontaneous epileptiform event frequency versus vehicle controls
Cumulative burden reduction p-value
p < 0.0001
Statistical significance for reduced cumulative epileptiform burden after KIO-300 exposure
Retinal hyperactivity reduction
≈50%
Approximate reduction in pathological retinal hyperactivity in earlier retinal degeneration research
Conference dates
June 18-19, 2026
Dates of the Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline Conference where data were presented
Key Terms
ion channel modulator, temporal lobe epilepsy, Retinitis Pigmentosa, molecular photoswitch, +1 more
5 terms
ion channel modulator medical
"preclinical data on its novel ion channel modulator platform, which significantly suppressed seizure-associated activity"
A molecule or therapy that changes how ion channels—protein 'gates' in cell membranes that control the flow of charged particles—open or close, altering electrical signals and cell behavior. Investors should care because these modulators are often drug candidates for conditions like heart rhythm problems, pain, or neurological disorders; their success or failure affects clinical risk, regulatory approval, market size, and safety profiles much like a new engine component determines a vehicle’s performance and reliability.
temporal lobe epilepsy medical
"suppressed seizure-associated electrophysiological activity in an ex vivo temporal lobe epilepsy model"
A form of epilepsy caused by abnormal electrical activity in the temporal lobe, the brain area involved in memory, language and emotion, that leads to recurrent seizures and changes in behavior or awareness. Investors care because shifts in diagnosis, treatment options or regulatory approvals—such as new drugs, devices or imaging tools—can affect healthcare costs, market demand and the value of companies working on therapies; think of it as a faulty control room circuit that creates unpredictable outages needing repair.
Retinitis Pigmentosa medical
"KIO-301, Kiora’s ongoing Phase 2 clinical program in vision restoration in patients with gene mutation-agnostic Retinitis Pigmentosa"
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited disorders that slowly damage the light-sensing cells in the retina, causing progressive loss of peripheral and night vision and often leading to legal blindness. It matters to investors because the condition defines a clear patient population and long-term need for treatments, making clinical trial design, potential market size, and regulatory approval pathways central considerations when valuing companies developing diagnostics or therapies.
molecular photoswitch medical
"KIO-301 ... It is a molecular photoswitch that has the potential to restore vision"
A molecular photoswitch is a small molecule that changes its shape or chemical behavior when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, acting like a tiny light-controlled switch inside a material or device. Investors care because this light-driven on/off control enables precise, remote operation of drugs, sensors, data storage and smart materials, creating opportunities for products with better performance, lower side effects, or new business models.
dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) medical
"KIO-104 ... small-molecule inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH)"
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is an enzyme inside cells that helps make the chemical building blocks needed for DNA and RNA. Investors care because drugs that block DHODH can slow rapidly dividing cells or modulate the immune system, making it a common target for cancer, autoimmune and antiviral therapies; progress in clinical trials, regulatory decisions, patents or competition around DHODH inhibitors can significantly affect a biotech’s risk and value.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 18, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
| (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||
(858 ) 224-9600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class: | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered: | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 18, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing preclinical data on its novel ion channel modulator platform, which significantly suppressed seizure-associated electrophysiological activity in an ex vivo temporal lobe epilepsy model. The findings were presented in a poster at the Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline Conference taking place June 18-19, 2026, in Leesburg, VA. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information furnished herein, including Exhibit 99.1, is not deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. This information will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates them by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Title | |||||||
99.1 | Press Release of Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated as of June 18, 2026 | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| KIORA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Melissa Tosca | |||||||
| Melissa Tosca | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal financial and accounting officer) | ||||||||
| Date: June 18, 2026 | ||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Kiora Pharmaceuticals Reports its Ion Channel Modulator, KIO-300, Suppressed Seizure Activity in Preclinical Epilepsy Model
Data Presented at Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline Conference Demonstrated Significant Reduction in Epileptiform Activity
The findings were reported at The Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline Conference taking place June 18-19, 2026
KIO-300 is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of KIO-301, Kiora’s ongoing Phase 2 clinical program in vision restoration in patients with gene mutation-agnostic Retinitis Pigmentosa
ENCINITAS, CA – June 18, 2026 -- Kiora Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KPRX) today announced preclinical data showing that KIO-300, part of the company’s novel ion channel modulator platform, significantly suppressed seizure-associated electrophysiological activity in an ex vivo temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) model. The findings were presented in a poster at the Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline Conference taking place June 18-19, 2026, in Leesburg, VA.
"These data reinforce the broad therapeutic potential of our ion channel modulator platform and suggest potential utility beyond ophthalmology," said Brian Strem, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Kiora Pharmaceuticals. "There is a compelling opportunity to explore additional therapeutic applications where we retain full development and commercialization rights outside the eye. Future translational R&D efforts will evaluate targeted molecular modifications and delivery strategies to enhance disease-specific benefits in epilepsy and other neurological disorders."
Key findings include:
•KIO-300 produced sustained suppression of epileptiform activity in hippocampal CA1 slices from mice with induced temporal lobe epilepsy.
•Treatment reduced spontaneous epileptiform event frequency compared with vehicle controls, with statistically significant inhibition beginning 42 minutes after treatment (p < 0.0001).
•Analysis of cumulative epileptiform burden also demonstrated a significant reduction following KIO-300 exposure (p < 0.0001).
The suppressive effect persisted throughout both treatment and washout periods, suggesting prolonged neural tissue retention. Importantly, KIO-300 did not impair broader electrical transmission in brain tissue, indicating its effects were specific to abnormal spontaneous activity rather than generalized neurological suppression.
The scientific rationale builds on earlier retinal degeneration research in which KIO-300 reduced pathological retinal hyperactivity by approximately 50%. Because neuronal hyperexcitability is also a hallmark of epilepsy, researchers selected temporal lobe epilepsy as an exploratory indication to evaluate whether KIO-300's membrane-calming effects extend to the central nervous system.
The poster, titled "KIO-300/BENAQ Modulates Epileptiform Activity in an Ex Vivo Hippocampal TLE Model," was authored by researchers from Kiora Pharmaceuticals.
About Kiora Pharmaceuticals
Kiora Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing advanced therapies for retinal disease. We target critical pathways underlying retinal diseases using innovative small molecules to slow, stop, or restore vision loss. KIO-301 is being developed initially for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, with potential to expand into choroideremia and Stargardt disease. It is a molecular photoswitch that has the potential to restore vision in patients with inherited and/or age-related retinal degeneration. KIO-104 is being developed for the treatment of macular edema due to retinal inflammation. It is a next-generation, non-steroidal, immuno-modulatory, and small-molecule inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH).
In addition to news releases and SEC filings, we expect to post information on our website, www.kiorapharma.com, and social media accounts that could be relevant to investors. We encourage investors to follow us on X and LinkedIn as well as to visit our website and/or subscribe to email alerts.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this press release are "forward-looking" and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking" statements include statements relating to, among other things, Kiora's ability to execute on development and commercialization efforts and other regulatory or marketing approval efforts pertaining to Kiora's development-stage products, including KIO-104 and KIO-301, as well as the success thereof, which such approvals or success may not be obtained or achieved on a timely basis or at all, the sufficiency of existing cash and short-term investments on hand to fund operations for specific periods, the timeline of anticipated readouts, the potential for pipeline expansion, the potential to add trial centers, expand the geographic footprint of trials and/or accelerate enrollment, the potential for KIO-301 and KIO-104 to address multiple indications, and the possibility of future global registration studies and commercialization. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from the statements set forth in this press release, including, among other things, the ability to conduct clinical trials on a timely basis, market and other conditions and certain risk factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Kiora's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2026 or described in Kiora's other public filings, including on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2026. Kiora's results may also be affected by factors of which Kiora is not currently aware. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Kiora expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.
Contacts:
Investors
Investors@kiorapharma.com
FAQ
What did Kiora Pharmaceuticals (KPRX) announce about KIO-300 in epilepsy?
Kiora reported preclinical data showing KIO-300 significantly suppressed seizure-associated electrophysiological activity in an ex vivo temporal lobe epilepsy model. The effect reduced spontaneous epileptiform events versus vehicle controls and persisted during treatment and washout, suggesting prolonged neural tissue retention and targeted action.
What were the key preclinical findings for KIO-300 reported by Kiora (KPRX)?
KIO-300 produced sustained suppression of epileptiform activity in hippocampal CA1 slices from mice with induced temporal lobe epilepsy. Treatment reduced spontaneous epileptiform event frequency, and cumulative epileptiform burden declined significantly, while normal electrical transmission remained intact, indicating specificity for abnormal activity.
Why is Kiora Pharmaceuticals exploring epilepsy for its ion channel modulator platform?
Earlier research showed KIO-300 reduced pathological retinal hyperactivity by about 50% in retinal degeneration models. Because neuronal hyperexcitability also characterizes epilepsy, Kiora evaluated temporal lobe epilepsy as an exploratory indication to see whether its membrane-calming effects extend into the central nervous system.
Does Kiora Pharmaceuticals retain rights to non-ophthalmic uses of KIO-300?
Kiora highlighted a compelling opportunity to explore additional therapeutic applications of its ion channel modulator platform and noted it retains full development and commercialization rights outside the eye. This allows potential expansion into epilepsy and other neurological disorders if future studies support such indications.
What other pipeline programs does Kiora Pharmaceuticals (KPRX) mention?
Kiora is developing KIO-301, a molecular photoswitch for retinitis pigmentosa with potential expansion to choroideremia and Stargardt disease. It is also advancing KIO-104, a non-steroidal, immuno-modulatory small-molecule DHODH inhibitor for macular edema associated with retinal inflammation, targeting key retinal disease pathways.