Bausch + Lomb makes a move into the cutting edge of retinal care.
Gene therapy in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has made another large step to the mainstream of ophthalmic care.
Character Biosciences (New Jersey, US), a company specialized in genetics-guided drug discovery and development, has teamed up with Bausch + Lomb (Vaughan, Ontario) to develop novel treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The collaboration combines the heft of Bausch + Lomb’s position as a market leader with Character Bio’s innovative data platform and AI-driven analytics.
Together, the two companies are hoping to rewrite the playbook for AMD treatment and bring hope to millions of people worldwide.
Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Bausch + Lomb, Dr. Yehia Hashad, expressed excitement about the partnership with Character Biosciences, calling it a significant milestone in ophthalmology drug development.
“This collaboration represents a pivotal step in applying a data-driven approach to ophthalmology drug development,” he explained, emphasizing the goal of creating transformative, targeted treatments for AMD by uncovering novel disease mechanisms.
Partnership details
Here’s how the partnership works:
- Upfront and research funding: Character Bio has secured an upfront payment along with annual research funding.
- Milestone payments and royalties: The company stands to receive development and sales-related milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on future product sales.
- Strategic equity investment: Pending certain closing conditions, Bausch + Lomb will make a significant equity investment in Character Bio.
One particular initiative of interest in the partnership is Character Bio’s AI-driven platform, which can identify specific genetic drivers behind AMD. Instead of offering generalized treatments, they’re aiming for personalized therapies—a shift that could redefine how eye care is delivered.
As the partnership unfolds, the medical community and patients alike will be watching closely, hopeful that this union of expertise and innovation will lead to breakthroughs that redefine what’s possible in eye care.