Pfizer and Bausch & Lomb will collaborate on ophthalmic drug sector

Rochester, NY and New York-Pfizer and Bausch & Lomb signed a deal to collaborate on promoting both company’s prescription eye drugs in the United States to increase significantly the support for the products, according to the companies. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 5-year agreement involves Pfizer’s glaucoma drug, latanoprost (Xalatan), and three Bausch & Lomb products: loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2% for conjunctivitis (Alrex); loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.5% for inflammatory conditions (Lotemax); and loteprednol etabonate 0.5% and tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic suspension (Zylet), which is a combined anti-inflammatory and anti-infective agent.

Bausch & Lomb’s besifloxacin, an anti-infective eye drop under review by the FDA also is included in the deal. Pfizer will continue to maintain three mid-stage ophthalmic development programs in its own pipeline.

"Working in collaboration, our U.S. sales organizations will now represent one of the broadest product offerings in the U.S. ophthalmic market," said Flemming Ornskov, Bausch & Lomb, global president of pharmaceuticals.