[THE INVESTOR] YD Global Life Science said on July 17 that it filed an application with the US Food and Drug Administration for phase 2a clinical trials of its diabetic retinopathy drug candidate YD-312.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease that affects millions of people with diabetes and a leading cause of vision loss. 

“YD Global Life Science’s YD-312 has achieved an increase in potential for global market entry by nearly completing filing patent applications in major markets like the US, Europe, Japan and Canada,” CEO Lee Jin-woo said.

The drug candidate is designed to inhibit retinal vascular permeability that causes vision impairment, according to the firm.

The global diabetic retinopathy market is anticipated to reach 8.45 trillion won (US$7.52 billion) by 2020.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)