Bausch Health’s (NYSE:BHC) Bausch + Lomb and Clearside Biomedical (Nasdaq:CLSD) launched their Xipere product in the U.S. today.
Clearside Biomedical designed the Xipere triamcinolone acetonide suprachoroidal injectable suspension therapy with a proposed indication for treating macular edema associated with uveitis, a form of eye inflammation. Xipere works with Clearside’s proprietary SCS Microinjector to deliver the therapy to the back of the eye where sight-threatening disease occurs.
Xipere is the first and only FDA-approved therapy for suprachoroidal use in treating macular edema associated with uveitis, the company said.
“Xipere is the first and only therapy available in the United States that utilizes the suprachoroidal space to treat patients who struggle with macular edema associated with uveitis, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people with uveitis,” Bausch Health Chairperson and CEO Joseph Papa said in a news release. “Throughout the past several months, we have been training eye care professionals all over the country on how to properly administer Xipere using its unique suprachoroidal injection method, which enables targeted delivery and compartmentalization of the medication. We are pleased that Xipere is now broadly available as a new and unique treatment option for the 300,000 Americans who suffer from this serious condition.”
In October 2019, the two companies agreed to a licensing deal worth up to $76 million. The deal grants Bausch an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, distribute, promote, market and commercialize the SCS Microinjector suprachoroidal injection device.
Bausch agreed to pay $5 million upfront, plus additional payments worth up to $15 million after achieving specified pre-launch development and regulatory milestones. There is also $56 million available in other milestone payments related to regulatory approvals for additional indications and sales goals.
