Bausch + Lomb Acquires Whitecap Biosciences

The company is developing two therapies for potential use in glaucoma and geographic atrophy.

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iStock/Vladislav Stepanov

Bausch + Lomb announced an affiliate has acquired Whitecap Biosciences, which is currently developing two therapies for potential use in glaucoma and geographic atrophy (GA). The acquisition strengthens Bausch + Lomb’s expanding clinical-stage pipeline.

“We’re focused on finding treatments that address unmet needs or significantly improve upon the current standard of care,” said Yehia Hashad, MD, chief medical officer and executive vice president, Research & Development, Bausch + Lomb. “Glaucoma and geographic atrophy are two areas where we believe that dramatic improvement is possible. Whitecap Biosciences’ investigational medicines show real promise when it comes to slowing vision loss and perhaps even improving vision for patients with glaucoma, which would be a long-overdue breakthrough.”

Whitecap Biosciences was founded in 2015 to develop novel therapies for ophthalmic diseases with a focus on glaucoma, GA and other serious eye diseases. The company successfully completed Phase 2 clinical trials for WB007, a highly potent alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, in glaucoma. Additional clinical trials are planned for both glaucoma and GA.

“Glaucoma and geographic atrophy can cause severe vision loss, with many patients experiencing progressive deterioration,” said Scott Whitcup, MD, a founder and former chief executive officer, Whitecap Biosciences. “By joining a global leader like Bausch + Lomb, we hope Whitecap’s assets will be developed into effective treatments that improve visual outcomes for patients.”

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