Optokira is based on technology exclusively licensed to from Harrington Scholars at University of California, San Francisco, and collaborators from the University of Washington, Optikira is focused on developing novel therapeutics to prevent cell death. Extensive research by the founders has helped define the biological pathway leading to progressive cell death which characterizes diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, diabetes, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Their work detemined that so-called unfolded protein response, or UPR, has an important âhousekeeping role in cell metabolism. When overloaded, terminal UPR results in the accumulation of excessive unfolded proteins and cellular death. Inhibitors havebeen developed that can prevent the activation of the terminal UPR, while not disrupt the housekeeping role of the enzyme. Targeting premature cell death may have produced this unique opportunity to address an unmet clinical nee
