Merck is acquiring the clinical-stage startup EyeBio for $1.3 billion in cash upfront, with potential milestone payments of up to $1.7 billion. EyeBio develops drugs for retinal conditions, with their lead program Restoret targeting the Wnt pathway in the eye to restore and maintain the blood-retinal barrier in diabetic macular edema. Early clinical data for Restoret showed positive results in improving visual acuity and reducing retinal thickness. Merck aims to diversify its pipeline and accelerate the development of EyeBio’s candidates for retinal diseases. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year, with pivotal testing for Restoret in diabetic macular edema starting in the second half of 2024.
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Merck Sees Pipeline Diversification Opportunity in $1.3B EyeBio Acquisition
