Glaukos Corp. is building momentum across its eyecare portfolio, most recently striking a deal to bring a new retinal drug candidate to market.
The Aliso Viejo-based ophthalmology company landed an exclusive licensing agreement with Springfield, Illinois-based RevOpsis Therapeutics Inc. to develop and commercialize the company’s experimental eye treatment for various retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye conditions.
The agreement also gives Glaukos exclusive rights to RevOpsis’ “plug-and-play” platform for the discovery and development of up to four additional retinal treatments.
The deal represents an important strategic step
The deal “represents an important strategic step in the continued expansion of our retinal franchise and is highly complementary to our ongoing retinal R&D initiatives,” Glaukos Chairman and Chief Executive Thomas Burns said.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
In the days since the licensing agreement was announced on Oct. 8, shares in Glaukos (NYSE: GKOS) have increased 4% to $168.02 apiece for a market cap of $9.8 billion.
The company is set to release third quarter earnings on Oct. 28 after the market closes.
NBA Partnership RaisesAwareness of Rare Eye Disease
Glaukos also reported positive three-year results for Epioxa, the first and only FDA-approved topical drug therapy for keratoconus.
The progressive eye disease causes the cornea
The progressive eye disease causes the cornea to thin and bulge, resulting in distorted vision. It occurs in kids in their late teens.
Around 20% of untreated keratoconus patients require corneal transplants Unlike traditional methods that require scraping the outer layer of the eye with a blade, Epioxa is incision-free
The extended study followed up on patients who received Epioxa in the second Phase 3 pivotal trial. Results showed “durable efficacy and a favorable long-term safety profile” in the 35 participants.
Glaukos is further raising awareness of keratoconus through
Glaukos is further raising awareness of keratoconus through a new educational campaign called “Could it be KC?”, launched in partnership with four-time National Basketball Association champion, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and Olympic gold medalist Stephen Curry.
The campaign aims to improve recognition and earlier detection of keratoconus. When left untreated, the disease can cause permanent vision loss.
As part of the campaign, Curry will share his experience with keratoconus, which he was diagnosed with during the 2018-19 NBA season.
“For a long time, I got used to just getting by, squinting and brushing off headaches, without realizing anything was wrong with my eyes,” Curry said. “When I was diagnosed with keratoconus, it was scary, but I knew I couldn’t ignore it and asked for help.”
The campaign launched in late September with expanded activities planned for 2027.
