Dive Brief:
- Parion Sciences and Santen Pharmaceuticals have entered into an option, license and development agreement in which Santen will have exclusive marketing rights of Parion’s new dry eye drug in Asia.
- Parion’s drug, P-321 Ophthalmic Solution has a unique mode of action that restores the eye’s tear film volume. The NDA for P-321 was accepted by FDA in early May.
- Santen has a proven track record commercializing multiple dry eye products in Asia.
Dive Insight:
As part of this deal, Parion will retain the rights to develop and commercialize P-321 in North America, Europe and the rest of the world, with the exception of Asia. Clinical trials involving patients with dry eye disease will start in July in the US. Assuming Santen moves forward with the agreement, it will be responsible for all clinical, regulatory and commercial activity in the agreed-upon Asian countries.
This partnership makes sense on many levels. It gives Parin reach into the Asian markets, and by working with Santen, Parin gains access to solid relationships, an extensive distribution network and experience navigating the regulatory systems.
It’s worth noting that there is a substantial market opportunity in the Asia. In studies of Asian dry eye patients, the prevalence of dry eye disease was approximately double that in the US, according to Dr. Debra Schaumberg, Associate Professor of Medicine and Ophthalmology at New York University.