Rudacure, Ceva Sign Development and Licensing Deal for Canine Dry Eye Treatment

Option Exercised After Evaluating Drug Candidate
Rudacure to Handle Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Development and Supply

Rudacure, a biotech venture developing treatments for intractable diseases, is partnering with global animal health company Ceva to develop and commercialize a treatment for dry eye in dogs.

Ludacure company logo image. Ludacure

Rudacure said Monday that it had signed a development and licensing agreement with Ceva for RCI001-AH, a drug candidate for treating dry eye in dogs. Under an evaluation and licensing option agreement signed by the two companies in 2024, Ceva evaluated the drug candidate and then exercised its option.

Rudacure will handle the development, manufacturing and supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, while Ceva will oversee further development, finished drug manufacturing, regulatory approval and global commercialization.

RCI001-AH is a treatment for companion animals developed based on Rudacure's RCI001 drug candidate for dry eye. The company said studies in dogs showed potential for healing corneal damage and improving tear production.

Rudacure is also pursuing clinical development of RCI001/HL262, a drug candidate for human use.

Rudacure CEO Kim Yongho said, "Ceva's exercise of the option is significant because it means RCI001-AH has moved beyond the evaluation stage and entered active development with a global partner."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.