Rigel to focus on dry eye

South San Francisco, CA-Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced its plans to focus the company’s resources on the completion of three lead clinical programs, including dry eye.

The dry eye program, a topical ophthalmic JAK/SYK inhibitor for dry eye, is currently in Phase II studies and is expected to be completed with results in the second quarter of 2014.

The drug aims at reducing the inflammation responsible for the symptoms of dry eye.

“Strategically, we have made a decision to concentrate our resources on the programs that we believe hold the greatest potential for a near term path to market,” said James M. Gower, chairman and chief executive officer of Rigel. “The size and scope of these clinical programs are such that we can fund and manage them in-house, therby maintaining control and flexibility over their development.

The other two programs Rigel will focus on are a Phase III study of fostamatinib-an oral SYK inhibitor-in Immune Thromocytopenic Purpura, and a Phase II study of a topical dermatological JAK/SYK inhibitor for discoid lupus erythematosus.

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