Kala Sells Its Eye Disease Portfolio to Alcon

Alcon is purchasing Kala Pharmaceuticals’ portfolio of eye disease drugs for an upfront payment of $60 million, plus potential milestone payments on future sales.

Under the agreement, Alcon will gain access to Kala’s Eysuvis (loteprednol etabonate) 0.25 percent ophthalmic suspension — indicated as a short-term treatment for dry-eye disease — and Inveltys (loteprednol etabonate) 1 percent ophthalmic suspension), which is for treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery.

The agreement also includes collaborative development of Kala’s investigational drug, KPI-012, as a treatment for patients with persistent corneal epithelial defect, a severe eye disease involving a nonhealing corneal defect.