UK biotech Quethera has been acquired by the Japanese firm Astellas Pharma in a $ 109 m deal . It has been developing a range of ophthalmic gene therapies with the intention of bringing novel treatments to glaucoma and eye disorders . The financial terms of the purchase involve both upfront and contingent payments , though no information has been released over what the milestones will be . Japanese Astellas Pharma has bought privately-owned biotech Quethera for $109 million, gaining access to its gene therapy focused on developing novel treatments for glaucoma and eye disorders. Astellas has been consolidating its position within gene therapy for eye disease , having forged a research agreement with Harvard Medical School in 2014 and a development agreement with CLINO Corporation in 2016 , both for ophthalmic conditions .
UK biotech Quethera has been acquired by the Japanese firm Astellas Pharma in a $ 109 m deal . It has been developing a range of ophthalmic gene therapies with the intention of bringing novel treatments to glaucoma and eye disorders . The financial terms of the purchase involve both upfront and contingent payments , though no information has been released over what the milestones will be . Astellas has been consolidating its position within gene therapy for eye disease , having forged a research agreement with Harvard Medical School in 2014 and a development agreement with CLINO Corporation in 2016 , both for ophthalmic conditions .