Galapagos gets $400,000 upfront as it seals discovery deal in ophthalmic diseases

Genomics-based drug discovery specialist Galapagos NV agreed a collaborative research deal with the US health company Bausch & Lomb, who specialise in eye treatments. Under the deal Bausch and Lomb will have the exclusive option to license select Galapagos compounds for development as treatments for ophthalmic diseases.

Praveen Tyle, Chief Scientific Officer of Bausch & Lomb said, “The small molecule compounds under evaluation have very attractive in vitro and in vivo profiles.”

Onno van de Stolpe, Chief Executive Officer of Galapagos said, “Our collaboration with Bausch & Lomb gives us the opportunity to leverage select compounds in a therapeutic area that we would not otherwise pursue.”

Bausch & Lomb is responsible for the preclinical and clinical development of the select compounds for use in ophthalmic diseases.  Under the terms of the collaboration, Galapagos, of Mechelen, Belgium, will receive an upfront payment of $400,000 and may receive research funding for further development of the compounds for ophthalmic uses, plus milestone payments.  The potential total value of the deal could be $50 million, plus royalties on sales.