Eyeing New Drugs For Glaucoma

Demographic shifts leading to an increasing market, unmet medical need and potential interest from Big Pharma buyers are all compelling reasons for VCs to examine closely the opportunity in glaucoma. Add in the fact that because clinical trials are relatively straightforward and quick, it's possible to keep costs manageable, and one might expect venture capitalists to be rushing to form biotech start-ups in the glaucoma arena, especially since there's been no new mechanism of action in glaucoma in a long time. But the hurdle giving venture investors pause is the wholesale restructuring that will come to the glaucoma market next March, when a key patent for Xalatan expires.