Introduction:
US pharma giant Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) has announced its acquisition of London-based ophthalmology expert Eyebiotech Ltd for up to US$3bn, with an upfront payment of US$1.3bn. The acquisition includes Eyebiotech’s clinical pipeline of vision loss candidates, including its most developed program EYE103 (Restoret), which is set to enter a pivotal Phase IIb/III proof of concept trial in H2/2024 for diabetic macular edema (DME). This strategic acquisition aims to provide new treatment options for patients with retinal disease.
- MSD has acquired Eyebiotech Ltd, a London-based ophthalmology expert, for up to US$3bn, with an upfront payment of US$1.3bn.
- Eyebiotech’s clinical pipeline includes EYE103 (Restoret), which is set to enter a pivotal Phase IIb/III trial for diabetic macular edema (DME).
- Restoret is a tri-specific antibody that targets the Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway to regulate blood supply to the retina.
- The acquisition provides MSD with a pipeline of novel candidates to address current treatment limitations for retinal diseases.
- MSD aims to support the clinical, regulatory, and commercial development of Eyebiotech’s candidates and bring them to patients worldwide.
Conclusion:
MSD’s acquisition of Eyebiotech Ltd provides the pharma giant with a strong ophthalmology pipeline, including the promising candidate EYE103 (Restoret). By targeting the Wnt signaling pathway, Restoret aims to regulate blood supply to the retina and address current treatment limitations for retinal diseases. This acquisition aligns with MSD’s goal of providing new treatment options for patients with retinal disease and demonstrates its commitment to advancing ophthalmology research and development.
