The LION study will evaluate whether laquinimod reaches the posterior chamber of the eye to support further development in patients with Non-Anterior-Non-Infectious Uveitis (NA-NIU). Subjects will be dosed with laquinimod eye drops before elective vitrectomy and thereafter samples including vitreous, anterior chamber fluid and plasma will be analysed for laquinimod concentration. Active Biotech supports the study with the Investigational Medicinal Product and related costs.

The study is supported by preclinical data where laquinimod was shown to distribute into the posterior segment of the eye following daily instillations of laquinimod eye drops. The recently completed phase I clinical study in healthy subjects showed no safety or tolerability concerns with daily instillations up to 21 days. The biodistribution study consists of a dose-escalation part and an optional masked, randomized dose-comparison part. Results from the study will be reported during 2024.

Global Ophthalmic Research Center (GORC), Los Altos, CA, US, is the LION study administrative sponsor, and it will be conducted in collaboration with clinician scientists at the Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, led by Principal Investigator Professor Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, MSc, FAAO, FARVO, FASRS, Professor of Ophthalmology, Medicine and Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Nguyen is known for his innovative work in early proof-of-concept, first-in-human clinical trials to evaluate potential pharmacotherapeutic agents for retinal vascular and uveitic diseases. He is a member of various prestigious professional organizations including the Club Jules Gonin, the Macula Society, the Retina Society, the American Ophthalmological Society, and the International Uveitis Study Group, among others. He serves as President of the International Ocular Inflammation Society as well as Executive Vice President of the Foster Ocular Immunology Society.