Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. announced key findings of UNI-494 efficacy from a preclinical study in animal models of Geographic Atrophy (GA). UNI-494 is a mitochondrial potassium channel (mitochondrial KATP) activator in development for treating diseases affected by mitochondrial dysfunction, such as kidney, liver, and ocular diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) progression.

GA is an advanced form of AMD. The company evaluated the effect of UNI-494 in preventing visual function loss in a rat model of GA. The study evaluated four groups (n=8 per group): untreated, vehicle control, low dose of UNI-494, and high dose of UNI-494.

GA was induced by bilateral subretinal injection of sodium iodate in experimental animals. UNI-494 was administered orally twice a day (BID) for 20 days, with the first administration of UNI-494 starting before sodium iodate injection. Contrast vision was measured by optokinetic tracking.

Treatment of animals with the high dose of UNI-494 resulted in 150% and 200% improvement in contrast vision compared to vehicle and untreated animals. Further preclinical studies are planned to investigate these promising findings of the effect of UNI-494 in improving visual function.