Kiora Pharmaceuticals Acquires Bayon

Bayon is an ophthalmic specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing light sensitive small molecules. These photoswitches are specifically designed to restore the eyes’ ability to perceive and interpret vision in visually-impaired patients. Bayon’s lead candidate, a small molecule known as “BENAQ”, selectively enters viable downstream retinal ganglion cells (no longer receiving input from degenerated rods and cones) and turns them into light sensing cells, capable of signaling the brain as to the presence or absence of light. BENAQ, the company’s lead photoswitch, is entering the clinic with an initial focus in patients with later stages of disease progression due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (all sub-forms). Bayon plans to further develop the platform for use in patients with Geographic Atrophy, the later stages of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (dry AMD).