Benzinga | Apr 22, 2021 07:12AM EDT

Glaukos Announces Global Licensing Agreement Amendment With Intratus, Inc.To Include Treatment Of Presbyopia; Financial Details Not Disclosed

Amendment Adds Presbyopia as a New Investigational Application for Patented, Non-Invasive, Topical Eyelid Drug Delivery Platform

Presbyopia Expands Upon Already Established Investigational Applications for Dry Eye Disease, Glaucoma and Other Corneal Disorders

Glaukos Corporation (NYSE:GKOS), an ophthalmic medical technology and pharmaceutical company focused on novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders and retinal diseases, today announced that it has entered into an amended licensing agreement with Intratus, Inc. under which Intratus has granted Glaukos a global exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize Intratus' patented, non-invasive drug delivery platform (the Eyelid Drug Delivery Platform) for application in the treatment of presbyopia.

The addition of presbyopia expands upon the existing agreement between the two parties announced on July 22, 2019, under which Glaukos secured a global exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize the Eyelid Drug Delivery Platform for use in the treatment of dry eye disease, glaucoma and other corneal disorders, such as allergy, blepharitis, conjunctivitis and related conditions. Additionally, the amendment includes a mechanism to further expand the existing agreement to other indications, applying the active pharmaceutical ingredients being advanced by Glaukos in glaucoma, corneal disorders and presbyopia to new ophthalmic fields.

"We are excited to expand our partnership with Intratus by adding presbyopia as a new investigational application for this novel drug delivery platform and build upon the promising R&D work we've completed thus far in dry eye disease, glaucoma and other corneal disorders," said Thomas Burns, Glaukos president and chief executive officer. "The Eyelid Drug Delivery Platform uses a differentiated, non-invasive, patient-friendly, transdermal approach and is highly complementary to our expanding portfolio of sustained pharmaceutical platforms in glaucoma, corneal health and retinal disease."

"Intratus is pleased to have our platform technology continue its expansion through a second license with Glaukos," said Aaron Dyer, Intratus president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to the progress Glaukos will continue to make and ultimately the restoration of sight we hope to provide for patients."

Presbyopia is a natural part of aging due to the hardening of the eye's crystalline lens over time, resulting in a loss of lens elasticity or the ability of the lens to change shape in order to focus incoming light on the retina. With this loss of flexibility, eyes are less able to adjust properly to focus on near objects. Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable around the age of 40 and there is no proven way to stop or reverse the progression of presbyopia.

The Eyelid Drug Delivery Platform's patented cream-based drug formulations are applied to the outer surface of the eyelid for transdermal delivery of pharmaceutically active compounds for the treatment of eye disorders. Early human studies with this novel delivery system have demonstrated efficacy without the side effects often associated with drugs delivered as topical eye drops.

Under the expanded agreement, Glaukos will obtain an exclusive global license to Intratus' drug delivery technology for use in the treatment of presbyopia, in addition to glaucoma and corneal disorders, including dry eye disease, allergy, blepharitis, conjunctivitis and related conditions. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.