Bayer, Johns Hopkins to develop therapies for retinal diseases

Bayer HealthCare and Johns Hopkins University have entered into a 5-year collaboration agreement to develop ophthalmic therapies for retinal diseases, according to a press release.

Under the agreement, Bayer and Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins will conduct research to evaluate new targets and disease mechanisms, drug delivery technologies and biomarkers for retinal diseases with high unmet medical need, the release said.

Bayer will have the option for exclusive use of the collaboration results.

“There is a critical need for new therapies that treat a variety of serious diseases of the eye,” Peter J. McDonnell, MD, director of the Wilmer Eye Institute and professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in the release. “Additional research will allow us the opportunity to make significant advances in this area.”