Pfizer and Bausch & Lomb, an eye care company, have signed a co-promotion agreement involving both companies’ prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in the US. The agreement will allow both companies to greatly increase the level of eye care industry support for these important medications that treat serious ophthalmic conditions.
The five-year agreement includes Pfizer’s Xalatan (latanoprost ophthalmic solution) and Bausch & Lomb’s Alrex (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2%), Lotemax (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.5%) and Zylet (loteprednol etabonate 0.5% and tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic suspension). The co-promotion agreement also will apply to Bausch & Lomb’s investigational anti-infective eye drop, besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension, 0.6%, which is currently under review by the FDA.
Under the terms of the agreement, both the Pfizer and Bausch & Lomb sales forces will promote Xalatan, Alrex, Lotemax, Zylet and besifloxacin. Separate from this co-promotion agreement with Bausch & Lomb, Pfizer will continue to maintain three mid-stage ophthalmic development programs in its own pipeline. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
In December 2008, the FDA’s Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of besifloxacin for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. Bausch & Lomb anticipates a decision from the FDA in 2009.
Olivier Brandicourt, president and general manager of specialty care business unit at Pfizer, said: Ophthalmic disorders cause significant disability in the US. This agreement with Bausch & Lomb combines our portfolios and further demonstrates our commitment to provide prescription medications that can benefit people living with serious eye conditions.