Bausch + Lomb Completes Acquisition of Xiidra

Bausch + Lomb announced it has completed its acquisition of Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5%), a non-steroid eye drop approved to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) focusing on inflammation associated with dry eye.

In June, Bausch + Lomb entered into a definitive agreement with Novartis to acquire Xiidra and the other ophthalmology assets for up to $2.5 billion, including an upfront payment of $1.75 billion in cash with potential milestone obligations of up to $750 million based on sales thresholds and pipeline commercialization. Bausch + Lomb also brought on the sales force supporting Xiidra. The company funded the acquisition with the previously announced funding deal. 

As part of the transaction, Bausch + Lomb also acquired libvatrep (also known as SAF312), an investigational compound being studied for the treatment of chronic ocular surface pain; and AcuStream technology, an investigational device that may have the potential to facilitate precise dosing and accurate delivery of certain topical ophthalmic medications to the eye. Libvatrep is currently in phase 2b development with study results anticipated to be completed in the second half of 2023.

In addition to Xiidra, Bausch + Lomb’s dry eye offering includes eye and contact lens drops from the company’s consumer brand franchises and its pharmaceutical business, including Miebo (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution), which launched in the United States earlier this month as the first and only FDA-approved prescription eye drop for DED that directly targets tear evaporation.

“We expect to quickly take a leading position in the growing prescription dry eye category with the Xiidra acquisition and Miebo launch and, importantly, help the millions of patients not currently receiving adequate treatment for dry eye disease,” said Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO, Bausch + Lomb.