-
- Betaliq is developing ophthalmic ß-blockers for the treatment of
glaucoma using Novaliq’s waterfree EyeSol® technology
- Betaliq is developing ophthalmic ß-blockers for the treatment of
-
- Betaliq successfully collected proceeds in a Series A round
HEIDELBERG, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CyclASol?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#CyclASollt;/agt;–Novaliq GmbH, a specialty pharmaceutical company for the development and
commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based
on EyeSol® and BLP Management group today announce the
formation and funding of Betaliq Inc., a new company located in Tampa,
Florida.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with
an estimated 70 million people currently affected by the condition. The
US glaucoma market of more than 3.7 million diagnosed patients is
expected to expand further due to an aging population. Ophthalmic
ß-blockers are a sizeable and growing therapeutic option in this market.1
Betaliq Inc. is a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue
of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”).
Betaliq’s pipeline consists of two preservative free glaucoma drug
candidates based on new in class and best in class ß-blocker molecules
using Novaliq’s waterfree EyeSol® technology. EyeSol®
is the worldwide first and only water-free technology for ophthalmology
products. Two EyeSol® based ophthalmic products are currently
approved in Europe and two active INDs are in late-stage in the United
States.
Betaliq is backed by an experienced management team lead by Barry
Butler, a successful entrepreneur with 30 years of pharmaceutical
experience serving as Chief Executive Officer of the company, and a
highly experienced management team. Recently the company has
successfully closed a Series A financing to fund the company and to
conduct phase 2 trials in the United States.
“I am excited to use this promising water-free technology also for
glaucoma,” said Barry Butler, “I believe the advantages offered by the
Eyesol® platform will bring significant benefits to glaucoma
patients.”
The EyeSol® technology offers important advantages over
traditional eye drop technology, including a drop size approxately ¼ of
the size of water-based drops. This smaller drop size has the potential
to result in less systemic absorption. Other advantages of EyeSol®
include longer residence time on the eye, better penetration, and no
need for toxic preservatives.
“With Betaliq, we aim to transform how glaucoma patients can be treated
in the future expanding application of EyeSol® to another
major indication,” said Christian Roesky, Novaliq’s CEO and member of
the Board of Directors Betaliq Inc. “Our latest clinical trials in dry
eye disease with two topical products based on our unique water-free
technology have just demonstrated the difference our products can have
for patients with an ocular surface disease. We believe that with
Betaliq, we can offer the same impact to glaucoma patients.”
Source: (1) The Glaucoma Research Foundation, www.glaucoma.org
About Betaliq
Betaliq, Inc. is a collaboration between Novaliq GmbH, and BLP
Management Group, LLC. Betaliq was formed to develop ophthalmic beta
blockers using Novaliq’s patented EyeSol® non-water
formulation technology.
EyeSol® is the first and only water-free eye drop technology
for ophthalmology products. The EyeSol® technology offers
important advantages over traditional eye drops, including a drop size
approximately ¼ of the size of water-based drops. This smaller drop size
has the potential to result in less systemic absorption. Other
advantages of EyeSol® include longer residence time on the
eye, better penetration, and no need for toxic preservatives.
Betaliq is developing two beta blockers, for the treatment of glaucoma.
BTQ 1901 is an EyeSol based formulation of a potent selective beta
blocker that has not previously been used to treat glaucoma. BTQ 1902 is
an EyeSol based formulation of timolol, the most commonly prescribed
beta blocker.
Beta blockers are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of
medicines to treat glaucoma. Beta blockers reduce Intraocular Pressure
(IOP) by blockade of sympathetic nerve endings in the ciliary epithelium
causing a fall in aqueous humour production. Beta blockers are often
prescribed in combination with other glaucoma medications.
Betaliq, Inc. is incorporated in Delaware and based in Tampa
Florida.More on www.betaliq.com
About Novaliq
Novaliq is a pharmaceutical company focusing on the development and
commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based
on EyeSol®, the first and only water-free technology
worldwide for ophthalmology products. With an initial focus on dry eye
disease (DED), Novaliq offers an industry-leading portfolio addressing
today’s unmet medical needs of millions of patients with eye diseases.
Two EyeSol® entities have been developed to distinctly target
either predominantly aqueous or evaporative disease and potentially
break the vicious circle of DED. Both are currently in phase 3
development. NOV03
(100% perfluorohexyloctane) is the first drug developed to treat
evaporative DED associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction in a highly
effective way. CyclASol®,
an ophthalmic solution of 0.1% cyclosporine A in EyeSol®,
is an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating drug for the treatment of
aqueous deficient DED. Both investigational drugs have shown superior
clinical benefit, with an early onset of action and an excellent
tolerability profile. NovaTears®
water-free eye drops for dry eye disease have CE Marking and are
commercialized in Australia/New Zealand by AFT Pharmaceuticals and in
Europe as EvoTears® by Ursapharm. Novaliq is headquartered in
Heidelberg, Germany and has an office in Cambridge, MA, USA. The
long-term shareholder is dievini Hopp BioTech Holding, an active
investor in Life and Health Sciences companies. More on www.novaliq.com.
# # #
Contacts
Heidrun Kirsch
VP Marketing, Novaliq GmbH
media@novaliq.com
Haley Lemon
Secretary Betaliq Inc.
hlemon@blpmgmt.com