OKYO Pharma transitions its ATM equity offering to Leerink Partners, enhancing capital access for clinical development of eye therapies.
Quiver AI Summary
OKYO Pharma Limited, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain and inflammatory eye diseases, announced the transition of its At-The-Market (ATM) equity offering facility to Leerink Partners LLC as the new sales agent, replacing B. Riley Securities Inc. This strategic change aims to enhance the company's financial flexibility, allowing it to raise capital efficiently and opportunistically through the sale of common shares in response to market conditions. OKYO's CFO, Keeren Shah, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Leerink, citing their expertise and strong industry relationships. The company recently completed a successful phase 2 trial of its lead candidate, urcosimod, and plans to initiate a larger study for NCP within the year. The ATM program is designed to minimize market disruption and will be executed under regulations set by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Potential Positives
- Transitioning the ATM equity offering facility to Leerink Partners LLC enhances the company's ability to raise capital opportunistically and efficiently.
- Leerink Partners brings deep expertise in the biotech sector, which can benefit OKYO Pharma's ongoing clinical development efforts.
- The company recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial of its lead candidate, urcosimod, indicating progress in its drug development pipeline.
- OKYO Pharma plans to initiate a Phase 2b/3 multiple-dose study of urcosimod, demonstrating commitment to advancing its treatment options for neuropathic corneal pain.
Potential Negatives
- Transitioning the ATM facility to a new sales agent could signal potential previous dissatisfaction or issues with B. Riley Securities Inc., raising concerns about the effectiveness of past capital raises.
- By utilizing an ATM facility to raise capital opportunistically, it suggests the company may be in a fragile financial position that requires continuous access to the capital markets, which could imply instability or cash flow issues.
- The reliance on forward-looking statements may indicate uncertainty regarding the company's future performance and the success of its drug development pipeline, which could concern investors.
FAQ
What recent change did OKYO Pharma announce regarding its ATM equity offering?
OKYO Pharma transitioned its At-The-Market equity offering facility from B. Riley Securities to Leerink Partners LLC as the new sales agent.
How does the ATM facility benefit OKYO Pharma?
The ATM facility enables OKYO Pharma to raise capital opportunistically while minimizing market disruption and maintaining financial flexibility.
What will Leerink Partners do for OKYO Pharma?
Leerink Partners will act as the exclusive sales agent for the ATM facility, receiving a 3.0% commission on gross proceeds from shares sold.
What is OKYO Pharma's primary focus in its research?
OKYO Pharma is focused on developing therapies for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases, utilizing novel molecules.
What is the company's lead candidate for treating NCP?
OKYO Pharma's lead candidate for neuropathic corneal pain is urcosimod, which recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$OKYO Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 5 institutional investors add shares of $OKYO stock to their portfolio, and 1 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- DAUNTLESS INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC removed 313,732 shares (-11.5%) from their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $627,464
- NORTHERN TRUST CORP added 57,158 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $114,316
- RENAISSANCE TECHNOLOGIES LLC added 41,200 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $82,400
- CITADEL ADVISORS LLC added 15,355 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $30,710
- UBS GROUP AG added 2,172 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $4,496
- OSAIC HOLDINGS, INC. added 152 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $304
- GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC added 0 shares (+0.0%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $0
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
$OKYO Analyst Ratings
Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $OKYO in the last several months. We have seen 1 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.
Here are some recent analyst ratings:
- HC Wainwright & Co. issued a "Buy" rating on 09/23/2025
To track analyst ratings and price targets for $OKYO, check out Quiver Quantitative's $OKYO forecast page.
$OKYO Price Targets
Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $OKYO recently. We have seen 2 analysts offer price targets for $OKYO in the last 6 months, with a median target of $6.0.
Here are some recent targets:
- William Woods from B. Riley Securities set a target price of $5.0 on 12/08/2025
- Yi Chen from HC Wainwright & Co. set a target price of $7.0 on 09/23/2025
Full Release
LONDON and NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (Nasdaq: OKYO ), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing investigational therapies for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and for inflammatory eye diseases, today announced that it has transitioned its At-The-Market (ATM) equity offering facility to Leerink Partners LLC, a leading healthcare-focused investment bank as the sales agent, replacing its previous ATM facility with B. Riley Securities Inc. This strategic move allows OKYO Pharma to continue accessing the capital markets efficiently through an ATM program, enabling the sale of common shares directly into the market from time to time, at prevailing market prices, subject to market conditions and the Company's discretion.
"We are excited to partner with Leerink Partners to establish this new ATM facility," said Keeren Shah, Chief Financial Officer of OKYO Pharma. "Leerink's deep expertise in the biotech sector, proven track record in executing ATM programs, and strong relationships in the investor community make them an ideal partner as we advance our pipeline, including our lead candidate urcosimod for neuropathic corneal pain. This transition enhances our financial flexibility to support ongoing clinical development and corporate objectives without committing to a fixed equity raise."
The ATM facility provides OKYO Pharma the ability to raise capital opportunistically while minimizing market disruption. Sales under the program, if any, will be made pursuant to a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Leerink Partners will act as the exclusive sales agent and receive a commission equal to 3.0% of gross proceeds from any shares sold.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About OKYO Pharma
OKYO Pharma Limited (Nasdaq: OKYO) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and inflammatory eye diseases, with ordinary shares listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market. OKYO is focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat neuropathic corneal pain and other ocular diseases. OKYO recently completed a successful phase 2 trial of its flagship drug urcosimod in patients with NCP and plans to initiate a ~150 subject Phase 2b/3 multiple-dose study of urcosimod to treat NCP in the first half of this year.
For further information, please visit www.okyopharma.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry, its beliefs, and assumptions. Words such as ‘anticipates,’ ‘expects,’ ‘intends,’ ‘plans,’ ‘believes,’ ‘seeks,’ ‘estimates,’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. These and additional risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the company’s filings with the SEC, including those factors identified as “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. The company cautions security holders and prospective security holders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
For further inquiries:
OKYO Pharma Ltd
Paul Spencer, Business Development, and Investor Relations
+44 (0) 207 495 2379
Email:
[email protected]