Bayer HealthCare and Johns Hopkins University to develop ocular therapies

Bayer HealthCare has announced a new five-year collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

The organisations will work together to develop new ophthalmic therapies targeting retinal diseases, with a variety of targets, disease mechanisms, drug delivery technologies and biomarkers to be assessed.

Research will focus on serious back-of-the-eye diseases that affect many people worldwide, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema, geographic atrophy, Stargardt's disease, and retinal vein occlusion.

Both parties will contribute personnel and infrastructure to address important scientific questions. Bayer will have an option for the exclusive use of the collaboration results. 

Professor Andreas Busch, head of global drug discovery and member of the executive committee of Bayer HealthCare, said: "We are pleased to partner with this renowned institute which is among the leading scientific and clinical institutions in ophthalmology worldwide."

Last month, the company was evaluated as the world's most reputable pharmaceutical company in an independent report from the Reputation Institute, compiled from more than 15,000 interviews in 15 countries.