Kriya Therapeutics presented promising preclinical data for its gene therapy candidate KRIYA-825 at the 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City on May 8. The therapy is being developed as a potential one-time treatment for Geographic Atrophy (GA), a prevalent degenerative retinal disease and leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
KRIYA-825 is an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy that expresses a complement CR2-CR1 fusion protein designed to inhibit the activity of complement C3 and C5, which are validated therapeutic pathways already targeted by FDA-approved medicines for GA. The company has already initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with Geographic Atrophy earlier this year.
"We are excited about the tremendous potential of KRIYA-825 for the treatment of Geographic Atrophy, a devastating and progressive disease in need of better treatment options," said Shankar Ramaswamy, M.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Kriya. "We are proud of the data that the team has generated to date, and we look forward to continuing to share further updates as we advance KRIYA-825 through clinical development for patients with Geographic Atrophy."
Key Findings from Preclinical Studies
The preclinical data presented at ARVO demonstrated the potential of KRIYA-825 to ameliorate inflammatory-driven retinal degeneration, a key feature of Geographic Atrophy. In a mouse model of severe retinal damage induced by sodium iodate (NaIO3), researchers observed:
- Dose-dependent preservation of retinal thickness in mice treated with KRIYA-825
- Suppression of C3b to iC3b protein levels by KRIYA-825, counteracting the increase in C3b fragment levels caused by NaIO3-induced retinal damage
Additionally, a dose range finding study in non-human primates demonstrated the ability of a novel device to deliver KRIYA-825 to the suprachoroidal space and achieve target biodistribution in ocular tissues:
- Suprachoroidal delivery of KRIYA-825 using the Everads Suprachoroidal Injector was well-tolerated in non-human primates
- Robust transgene mRNA levels were detected in relevant ocular tissues including the choroid and RPE cell layers of the retina
- Minimal detectable transgene mRNA was found in tissues collected outside of the eye, suggesting targeted delivery
Innovative Approach to Geographic Atrophy Treatment
KRIYA-825 was designed with several key goals in mind that could potentially address limitations of current GA treatments:
Robust Complement Inhibition
The therapy utilizes a novel complement receptor 2-complement receptor 1 (CR2-CR1) fusion protein. The CR1 domain is designed to block the activity of both complement C3 and C5, while the CR2 domain is designed to bind to the surfaces of cells where complement fragments deposit and cause damage.
Multi-Year Durability
Through AAV-mediated continuous expression of the CR2-CR1 fusion protein following a one-time injection, KRIYA-825 aims to eliminate the need for frequent intravitreal injections required by currently available therapies for GA.
Targeted Delivery
The one-time suprachoroidal injection is designed to achieve transduction of, and delivery of therapeutic protein to, retinal cells while minimizing inflammation and overall patient burden.
Addressing a Significant Unmet Need
Geographic Atrophy affects approximately two million people in the United States and the European Union. Current treatments require monthly or every-other-month physician-administered intravitreal injections, which can be burdensome for patients, many of whom are elderly.
If successful in clinical trials, KRIYA-825 could offer a significant advancement in GA treatment by providing a one-time in-office suprachoroidal injection rather than requiring ongoing frequent injections.
It's important to note that KRIYA-825 has not been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and its clinical safety and efficacy for the treatment of Geographic Atrophy has not yet been established. The Phase 1/2 clinical trial currently underway will provide critical data on the therapy's safety and potential efficacy in humans.
About Kriya Therapeutics
Kriya Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies to address chronic diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. With operations in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and Palo Alto, California, the company has raised over $600 million to advance a broad pipeline of gene therapies for ophthalmology, metabolic disease, and neurology.
The company's mission is to revolutionize medicine with the ultimate goal of eliminating human suffering and enabling people to live without the burden of disease. The development of KRIYA-825 represents an important step in their efforts to address significant unmet needs in ophthalmology.
