Bausch + Lomb Bolsters Pipeline with Acquisition of Whitecap Biosciences

Friday, January 24 2025 | 15 h 44 min | News

Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced an affiliate has acquired Whitecap Biosciences, LLC, which is currently developing two innovative 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. 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.”

Yehia Hashad, MD, chief medical officer and executive vice president, Research & Development, Bausch + Lomb

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 is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs when excessive eye pressure or other causes lead to damage of the optic nerve. As one of the leading causes of preventable blindness, glaucoma affects about four million people in the United States, but if caught early, it is possible to help slow and potentially prevent vision loss.^1-3 GA, also known as advanced dry age-related macular degeneration, affects approximately one million people in the U.S.⁴

“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.”

References

National Eye Institute. Glaucoma and Eye Pressure. Retrieved from https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/glaucoma-and-eye-pressure. Reviewed on Nov. 12, 2024.
John Hopkins. Glaucoma. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma. Reviewed on Nov. 12, 2024.
Ehrlich JR, Burke-Conte Z, Wittenborn JS, et al. Prevalence of Glaucoma Among US Adults in 2022. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(11):1046–1053. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.3884
Saundankar V, Borns M, Broderick K, et al. Annual prevalence of geographic atrophy and wet age-related macular degeneration among Medicare Advantage enrollees in a US health plan. J. of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy 31(1). doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2025.31.1.88

Click HERE for the press release.

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