Novartis to acquire Xiidra, expanding front-of-eye portfolio and strengthening leadership in eye care - Seite 2

"Xiidra, with its unique dual benefits, is an example of the type of innovative advances we invest in for the benefit of patients," said Paul Hudson, CEO Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "We look forward to leveraging our well-established commercial infrastructure to bring this medicine to more patients."

In addition to powering Novartis' ability to serve more patients suffering from eye disease, the additional commercial experience established with Xiidra is expected to better position the company for front-of-the-eye pipeline products currently in development.

Deal terms include a USD 3.4 billion upfront payment with potential milestone payments of up to USD 1.9 billion. As part of the agreement, Novartis will be taking on approximately 400 employees associated with the product.

About dry eye disease
Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface[3]. In the US, it is estimated that more than 34 million people are impacted by the disease[3]. It is diagnosed by an eye care professional based on patient-reported symptoms such as eye dryness, overall eye discomfort, stinging, burning, a gritty feeling or fluctuating blurry vision, as well as signs of damage to the eye's surface, which include redness and corneal damage that can be objectively evaluated by an eye care professional through various tests[4]. Dry eye disease can interrupt daily activities such as reading, driving, working, using technology and spending time outside in bright light and cold or windy conditions[3]. Aging and gender (more prevalent in females) are recognized as traditional risk factors of dry eye disease while modern risk factors include prolonged digital/computer screen time, contact lens wear and cataract or refractive surgery[4],[5]. Dry eye may be progressive and is one of the most common reasons people visit eye care professionals[6].

About Xiidra
Xiidra is a prescription eye drop solution designed to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease[2]. It is dosed twice per day, approximately 12 hours apart, in each eye[2]. Xiidra is approved to treat signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in multiple markets including the US, Canada and Australia. It is under regulatory review in a number of additional markets.

Approximately 1000 patients were treated with Xiidra in four vehicle-controlled 12-week trials[2]. Each of the four studies assessed the effect of Xiidra on both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease at baseline, week two, six and 12[2].