--- title: "Kiora licenses KIO-301 rights in South Korea to Chong Kun Dang" url: "https://aibio.space/news/kiora-licenses-kio-301-rights-south-korea-chong-kun-dang/" publisher: "aibio.space (Biotech Investor Relations News)" date: "2026-08-19" section: "Company Updates" tickers: "NASDAQ:KPRX" source: "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372514/000137251426000077/ex991-pressreleaseckdaugus.htm" summary: "Kiora will receive a $1 million upfront payment from Chong Kun Dang for KIO-301 rights in South Korea. Kiora says its partners will coordinate a single glo" --- By the aibio.space news desk. Sources - [Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 8-K (2026-08-19)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372514/000137251426000077/ex991-pressreleaseckdaugus.htm) - [Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 10-K (2026-03-25): business](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372514/000137251426000024/kprx-20251231.htm) - [Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. financial data (SEC XBRL)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372514/000137251426000024/) [KPRX](https://aibio.space/companies/kiora-pharmaceuticals/) 2026-08-19 # Kiora licenses KIO-301 rights in South Korea to Chong Kun Dang Tickers [KPRX](https://aibio.space/companies/kiora-pharmaceuticals/) Kiora will receive a $1 million upfront payment from Chong Kun Dang for KIO-301 rights in South Korea. Kiora says its partners will coordinate a single global Phase 3 trial in retinitis pigmentosa. ## Key facts - **Company**: Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KPRX) - **News type**: Company Updates - **Primary source**: [Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 8-K (2026-08-19)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372514/000137251426000077/ex991-pressreleaseckdaugus.htm) *A researcher holding a rack of test tubes. CC0, via rawpixel. The picture shows the field, not the companies named.* Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: [KPRX](https://aibio.space/companies/kiora-pharmaceuticals/)) announced on August 19, 2026 that it has licensed development and commercialization rights for KIO-301 in South Korea, for ophthalmic indications, to Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation (CKD). The announcement is [Exhibit 99.1 to a Form 8-K](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372514/000137251426000077/ex991-pressreleaseckdaugus.htm). Under the agreement, Kiora will receive a $1 million upfront payment and is eligible for development and regulatory milestone payments, as well as royalties on future sales of KIO-301 in South Korea. CKD will be responsible for development and commercialization activities in South Korea. ## The agreement and the partner CKD is based in Seoul and is one of South Korea's leading pharmaceutical companies, according to the release. Young-Joo Kim, President of CKD, said retinitis pigmentosa is a rare inherited retinal disease with limited treatment options. He said more than 10,000 people in South Korea are estimated to be living with the condition, and that CKD looks forward to working with Kiora and its global partners as KIO-301 advances through development. The release says CKD brings established clinical, regulatory and commercial capabilities that can support development and commercialization of KIO-301 in South Korea. KO Law PC served as legal counsel to Kiora in connection with the licensing transaction. ## KIO-301 and the global partner network KIO-301 is a molecular photoswitch being developed initially for retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited retinal disease that leads to progressive vision loss. The company's annual report on Form 10-K describes KIO-301 as designed to restore light sensitivity to retinal ganglion cells after photoreceptors have degenerated. KIO-301 has received orphan drug designation (ODD) from the FDA. The Phase 2 ABACUS-2 trial is a 36 patient, multicenter, randomized, controlled study, and enrollment is ongoing. The annual report also says the company's ion channel modulators may have potential applications in other neurological diseases. Kiora partnered KIO-301 with Théa Open Innovation (TOI), a sister company of Laboratories Théa, in January 2024. Senju Pharmaceutical is also a partner. Chief executive Brian M. Strem, Ph.D., said the agreement expands Kiora's development and commercialization network for KIO-301 across the U.S., Europe, Japan, China and now South Korea. The release describes South Korea as the sole major market in the world that was not partnered until this deal. Kiora anticipates that its partners, Laboratoires Théa, Senju Pharmaceutical and CKD, will coordinate efforts to conduct a single, global Phase 3 clinical trial for KIO-301 in retinitis pigmentosa. ## Financial position The annual report's financial data show revenue of $0 for 2025, compared with $16.0 million for 2024. Research and development expense was $10.8 million in 2025 and $7.8 million in 2024. Kiora reported a net loss of $10.8 million for 2025, against net income of $3.6 million for 2024. Operating activities used $10.0 million of cash in 2025 and provided $8.6 million in 2024. Year-end cash and cash equivalents were $8.7 million for 2025 and $3.8 million for 2024, while year-end short-term investments were $8.4 million for 2025 and $23.0 million for 2024. At June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $7.1 million and short-term investments were $9.8 million. ## The risks ahead The $1 million upfront payment is small next to the $10.0 million of cash that operations used in 2025. Revenue for 2025 was $0. At June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $7.1 million and short-term investments were $9.8 million. The release gives no dates or amounts for the milestone payments. Kiora anticipates that its partners will coordinate a single global Phase 3 trial for KIO-301, but the release does not say when it would start. The company says it will focus its own resources on KIO-104, which is in an open-label trial, and will evaluate strategic transactions. The release warns that approvals or success may not come on time or at all. [Report an error](https://aibio.space/reputation/#correction) ## Companies in this story KPRX Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. NASDAQ · United States Open the starter desk ## More in Company Updates Company Updates ### [PTC reports third-quarter 2026 revenue of $358 million and raises product guidance](https://aibio.space/news/ptc-reports-third-quarter-2026-revenue-358-million-raises-product/) Oct 29, 2026 Company Updates ### [Processa clears VT-7208 CSU IND and names a new executive chair](https://aibio.space/news/processa-clears-vt-7208-csu-ind-names-new-executive-chair/) Oct 29, 2026 Company Updates ### [Kiora in-licenses late-stage KIO-401 for retinal artery occlusion](https://aibio.space/news/kiora-licenses-late-stage-kio-401-retinal-artery-occlusion/) Oct 29, 2026 --- Source page: https://aibio.space/news/kiora-licenses-kio-301-rights-south-korea-chong-kun-dang/. Facts in aibio.space stories are checked against company filings and releases; opinion is labelled. Cite as: aibio.space, "Kiora licenses KIO-301 rights in South Korea to Chong Kun Dang", 2026-08-19, https://aibio.space/news/kiora-licenses-kio-301-rights-south-korea-chong-kun-dang/