Alcon to Acquire US Commercialization Rights to Glaucoma Eye Drop Simbrinza

Alcon announced it has signed an agreement to acquire exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to Simbrinza (brinzolamide/brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic suspension) 1%/0.2% from Novartis.

Under terms of the deal, Alcon will pay $355 million at closing, which is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2021. After closing, Alcon and Novartis will immediately begin a transition period where Novartis will continue to sell Simbrinza and transfer the net profit to Alcon. Following the transition period, Alcon expects to manufacture and commercialize Simbrinza for the U.S. market, while Novartis will retain all rights to Simbrinza outside of the United States.

Simbrinza is a fixed combination of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the reduction of elevated IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Each of these two components decreases elevated IOP. Elevated IOP is a major risk factor in the pathogenesis of optic nerve damage and glaucomatous visual field loss. Simbrinza was initially approved by the FDA in 2013 and is covered by patents, which are not expected to expire until 2030.

The acquisition of Simbrinza, combined with the company’s existing over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, will give Alcon a strong ophthalmic eye drop portfolio and the opportunity to capitalize on both the large glaucoma market and the fast-growing dry eye preservative free and eye allergy markets, according to a company news release. The company’s US ophthalmology expertise and existing relationships with health care professionals (HCP) will help drive HCP and patient adoption.

“As the global leader in eye care, the addition of a proven fixed-combination glaucoma therapy is a natural adjacency to our existing portfolio,” Sergio Duplan, President, North America at Alcon, said in the news release. “We look forward to establishing a new commercial team dedicated to U.S. ophthalmologists that will promote our new products Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength, Systane Hydration Multi-Dose Preservative-Free and now Simbrinza.”