Alcon gains international rights to vitreomacular adhesion therapy

Alcon has agreed a licensing deal that provides it with commercial rights to an innovative treatment for symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion outside the US.

The company has formed an agreement with ThromboGenics to license the promising investigational compound ocriplasmin for an upfront payment of $75 million (47.80 million pounds), plus milestone fees and royalties.

Ocriplasmin is currently under review by the European Medicines Agency as potentially the first pharmacological treatment for this progressive and debilitating eye disease, which can cause visual distortion and central blindness.

ThromboGenics retains the rights to commercialise the drug, which has demonstrated its potential efficacy in clinical trials, in the US market.

Kevin Buehler, division head at Alcon, said: "Ocriplasmin is a strategic fit for Alcon and is expected to further enhance our portfolio of innovative treatments for the eye."

Alcon was acquired by the Novartis group last year, a transaction which helped Novartis to achieve year-on-year sales growth of 16 percent during the 12 months.