Shire plc has acquired New York-based Foresight Biotherapeutics Inc. for $300 million. With the acquisition, Shire acquires the global rights to FST-100, a therapy in late-stage development for the treatment of infectious conjunctivitis, a/k/a pink eye.
“With the acquisition of Foresight Biotherapeutics, Shire demonstrates its commitment to eye care while advancing its strategy of addressing high unmet medical need through transformative treatments for rare diseases and specialty medicines,” said Flemming Ornskov, M.D., CEO, Shire. “Ophthalmics is a highly attractive growth area for Shire and this acquisition allows us to strengthen our presence in this therapeutic area. It is highly synergistic with the planned lifitegrast commercial structure. FST-100 and lifitegrast, if approved, would address two of the leading reasons people seek eye care treatment.”
Currently no therapy exists to resolve both clinical signs and symptoms and eradicate adenovirus, which is the most common cause of viral conjunctivitis, according to a press release. If approved by regulatory agencies, FST-100 has the potential to become the first agent to treat both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis.
Read the full release
