Phase 1 trial confirms safety and tolerability of Huons’ dry eye therapy

Huons Co, a pharmaceutical subsidiary of Huons Group, received phase 1 Clinical Study Results (CSR) for HUC1-394, an eye drop for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

HUC1-394 is a peptide-based eye drop for dry eyes, licensed from NOVACELL Technology. According to the company, HUC1-394 binds to Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 (FPR2), which controls and reduces inflammation, then activates FPR2 to reduce and alleviate inflammation.¹

The primary objective of the phase 1 trial is to evaluate the safety, local tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of the HUC1-394 eye drop through Single Ascending Dose (SAD) and Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) ocular administrations in 60 healthy adults. The company noted that results “confirmed the safety and tolerability of a single- and multiple-dose escalation study of HUC1-394.” No serious adverse events were reported during the trial.

The company also anticipates that HUC1-394 will alleviate symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis caused by dry eyes, restore damaged corneas, and decrease the possibility of inflammation and adverse effects.

The company received approval for its Investigational New Drug (IND) from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for HUC1-394’s phase 1 clinical trial in January 2024.

According to the vice president and head of R&D at Huons, Kyung-mi Park, the company will analyze the clinical trial results and conduct a follow-up clinical trial “to provide new treatment option[s] for dry eye syndrome.”

At the end of 2024, the company announced a partnership with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) to develop a peptide treatment for dry AMD.

This collaboration enables Huons to develop novel peptide-based eye drops to improve the convenience of dosing for patients with dry AMD and reduce the side effects and cost burden of repeated invasive treatments, according to the company. Furthermore, the company claims it is expected to replace existing injectables to fulfill unmet medical needs and create a new market for peptide treatments for geriatric eye diseases.²

References:

1. Huons Reports Safety and Tolerability Results of New Drug for Dry Eye Syndrome in Phase 1 Clinical Trial. Published November 28, 2025. Accessed December 1, 2025. https://huonsglobal.com/eng/home.php?go=Bmenu_03&go_pds=pds_text_list&pds_num=60&start=0&num=3253&mode=&field=&s_que=&s_memo_2=

2. Huons BioPharma and KIST Collaborate to Develop Eye Drop for Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration. Published December 20, 2024. Accessed December 1, 2025. https://huonsglobal.com/eng/home.php?go=Bmenu_03&go_pds=pds_text_list&pds_num=60&start=0&num=2997&mode=search_list&field=list_title&s_que=dry&s_memo_2=