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# Palatin Gains Orphan Status for Uveitis Drug
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/palatin-gains-orphan-status-for-uveitis-drug/
- Published: 2019-06-06T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T01:31:03.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5144279

FDA has granted Palatin Technologies an orphan drug designation for PL-8177 for treating non-infectious intermediate, posterior, pan and chronic anterior uveitis. Non-infectious uveitis is a group of inflammatory diseases that produces swelling and destroys eye tissue and can result in vision loss, according to the company. PL-8177 is described as a selective melanocortin receptor 1 agonist peptide. It is being investigated in an oral formulation for treating ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases, and in a subcutaneous injection formulation for treatment of non-infectious uveitis.

“Unlike corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, and biological therapies targeting specific cytokines or receptors, melanocortin receptor 1 peptides work to resolve chronic inflammations and restore normal immune function,” Palatin says. It says it has conducted a single and multiple ascending-dose Phase 1 study with PL-8177 under an IND for ulcerative colitis. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study in the first half of 2020\. “In both animal studies and Phase 1 subcutaneous studies with PL-8177 no safety or tolerability concerns were reported,” it says.