Disease Focus

There is tremendous potential for innovation in Ophthalmology.  The company’s current therapeutic focus is on glaucoma, a serious disease that affects 1%-2% of the U.S. population and over 60 million people worldwide. Glaucoma represents 41% of a $4.6 Billion US business (2007) and is the largest market in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. The first generation prostaglandin agonists are the leading class of products in this market, with the global market leader Xalatan® (latanoprost; Pfizer) earning over $1.7 Billion in annual revenues (2008).

Glaucoma represents a group of eye diseases often marked by elevated intraocular pressure, which, if left untreated, can lead to progressive loss of vision and eventually blindness. Over four million people are estimated to have glaucoma in the United States, but only half receive a diagnosis. Approximately 120,000 people are blind from glaucoma, making glaucoma the second most common cause of blindness in the U.S. For more information on glaucoma, please visit the National Eye Institute’s website at www.nei.nih.gov.