SAN DIEGO – Skye Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB: SKYE) (“SKYE” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary, synthetic cannabinoid-derived molecules to treat glaucoma and other diseases with significant unmet need, has changed its name from Emerald Bioscience, Inc. to Skye Bioscience, Inc. The Company will trade under its new ticker symbol, “SKYE,” on the OTC effective at market open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. The new website for Skye Bioscience is www.skyebioscience.com.
“Over the past few months, we have reinvigorated our business with a new team and strong commitment to advance the clinical development plan for our promising drug candidate to treat glaucoma. Our new name, Skye Bioscience, reflects this transformation and the Company’s vision and conviction in its technology and its potential impact on human health,” said Punit Dhillon, CEO of Skye Bioscience.
“Since September, our Company has made significant progress on its development plan for its lead molecule, THCVHS, with important steps taken to finalize the formulation and manufacture of this drug. With manufactured drug expected in the near term, we plan to conduct additional important preclinical studies to further validate intraocular-pressure-lowering activity as well as the potential neuroprotective benefits of our drug. With other IND-enabling preclinical work in motion, we are also well on our way toward our first clinical trial planned to start in the third quarter of this year and provide data readouts in Q2 2022. These milestones represent a compelling set of outcomes that we believe can be impactful for the company.
One of Skye’s planned preclinical studies will compare the intraocular-pressure-lowering capability of THCVHS against, and in combination with, two other market-leading glaucoma drugs. Another will provide an initial assessment of THCVHS’ ability to provide neuroprotection, a capability that today is unavailable with current therapies. A neuroprotective drug could potentially help millions of patients from going blind, a significant and unfortunate outcome of glaucoma.
With the final preclinical steps planned, clinical sites identified, and protocols and timelines established, Skye is on a relatively short path to initiate its first clinical trial in Q3 2021. This first-in-human Phase 1 study of its lead therapeutic candidate, THCVHS, to treat glaucoma will assess the safety and tolerability of single and multiple ascending doses. The study design will also provide an initial assessment of its impact on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy patients with normal IOP as well as in a subset of patients with glaucoma and/or elevated IOP.
“Our confidence in the potential of THCVHS as a treatment for glaucoma is rooted in the multiple peer-reviewed clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of THC in lowering IOP. These prior studies, however, also demonstrated unwanted adverse effects of THC when administered systemically through ingestion or inhalation. Through rational drug design and bioengineering, THCVHS was created to be delivered safely and effectively delivered directly into the eye in order to leverage its inherent capabilities to address important health issues of the eye. We believe our unique, fully patented drug can avoid the adverse systemic effects of THC while providing superior IOP-lowering activity to help protect and preserve vision. As we move forward in 2021, we look forward to advancing our clinical objectives expeditiously and leveraging the compelling opportunities ahead of us,” said Mr. Dhillon.
Existing shareholders interested in getting an updated statement representing book shares or a revised stock certificate can email Skye’s transfer agent, ClearTrust, LLC, at [email protected]
For more information about the name change or to learn more about Skye Bioscience, Inc. please visit: www.skyebioscience.com.
About Skye Bioscience, Inc.
Skye Bioscience Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary, synthetic cannabinoid-derived molecules to treat diseases with significant unmet needs. The company’s lead molecule, in preclinical studies, has demonstrated potential as a new class of therapy to lower intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or elevated intraocular pressure that is superior to currently available drugs. For more information, please visit: www.skyebioscience.com
