Bayer HealthCare and Regeneron to create new wet AMD therapy

Bayer HealthCare and long-time partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will be developing a new antibody therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The companies will jointly develop an innovative antibody to platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta for use as a potential combination therapy with their currently approved drug Eylea.

Preclinical data has suggested that combining the activity of these two compounds can have benefits in the treatment of this serious eye condition. The first human studies of the new drug are expected to begin in early 2014.

Regeneron will retain full US commercialisation rights to the new product, while Bayer will obtain exclusive rights to the drug in all international territories.

Kemal Malik, member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee and head of global development, said: "Bayer is strongly committed to expanding its ophthalmology research and development efforts with innovative treatment options and this new development candidate complements our own pipeline perfectly."

Eylea is already recommended in the UK as a treatment for wet AMD. The drug was also approved in Europe last year for the treatment of visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.