Allergan set to acquire eye-care biotech ForSight VISION5
pharmafile | August 12, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Allergan, ForSight VISION5, acquisition, biotech, eye care
Allergan has announced its acquisition of privately-held, clinical-stage eye-care biotech ForSight VISION5 for a $95 million upfront payment and a launch milestone payment related to ForSight’s lead development program, a peri-ocular ring designed for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients.
The ring is a preservative-free, non-invasive peri-ocular product that rests on the surface of the eye and releases bimatoprost over several months to lower elevated IOP in glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients.
The company announced results of a randomised, controlled Phase II study comparing the product to twice-daily timolol eye drops (currently the most common treatment for IOP) in 2015. The study found that a single administration of the ring provided sustained reduction in IOP for six months with a reduction of 4-6 mmHg at the study’s primary endpoint of 12 weeks. Approximately 90% of subjects retained inserts in both eyes for six months without clinician assistance.
“ForSight’s ring technology has been shown to provide long-term intraocular pressure reduction through a non-invasive, passive technology for glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients,” said David Nicholson, chief R&D officer at Allergan. ” If approved, this technology could provide an important advance to address the significant challenges of patient compliance and adherence in glaucoma, a disease that is expected to impact more than 80 million people worldwide by 2020 and be a leading cause of blindness globally. Importantly, this technology would also be highly complementary to our ongoing portfolio and development programs that are moving glaucoma treatment toward dropless therapies.”
Matt Fellows
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