Bausch & Lomb, Novartis to co-promote Retisert

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., Feb. 9 - Bausch & Lomb and Novartis Ophthalmics, a business unit of Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp., will co-promote Bausch & Lomb's patented orphan drug Retisert (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant) 0.59 mg, in the United States, according to a company news release.

Retisert is indicated for the treatment of chronic noninfectious posterior segment uveitis.

The Novartis retinal sales team will promote Retisert to its network of retinal specialists in the United States, supplementing the efforts of Bausch & Lomb's U.S. pharmaceutical sales representatives.

Bausch & Lomb remains responsible for Retisert marketing and product strategy, the company said.

Further details of the agreement remain confidential.

"Novartis has an extensive physician-specialist network in place for its Visudyne (verteporfin for injection) therapy for the predominantly classic wet form of age-related macular degeneration, and we believe that both companies can benefit from the synergies inherent in this co-promotion agreement for Retisert," Michael J. O'Rourke, vice president and general manager of Bausch & Lomb's U.S. pharmaceuticals business, said in the release.

Bausch & Lomb is an eye health company based in Rochester, N.Y.

Based in Basel, Switzerland, the Novartis ophthalmics business unit of Novartis AG is a global ophthalmic pharmaceutical company.

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