Astellas’ HQ in Leiden, Netherlands

Astellas Pharma has acquired Iveric Bio for US$5.9bn, to further its goal of becoming a world-class ophthalmology entity with a focus on blindness and regeneration, said Astellas in a statement.  

The acquisition will absorb US company Iveric’s pipeline, which includes avacincaptad pegol to treat geographic atrophy (GA) (currently under US Food and Drug Administration review) and autosomal recessive Stargardt disease; IC-500, an HtrA1 inhibitor for GA treatment; and gene therapy products mini-CEP290 for Leber congenital amaurosis type 10, mini-ABCA4 for autosomal recessive Stargardt disease and mini-USH2A to treat Usher syndrome type 2A.  

Headquartered in Japan, Astellas’ lead ophthalmic product is ASP7317 (human embryonic stem-cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells), for the treatment of GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease and is in phase 1b clinical trial. Prograf (tacrolimus), an immunosuppressant used in corneal and other organ transplants, is among the company’s existing products.