Peter Widdowson, CEO of Quethera, commented on the acquisition announcement: “Quethera’s novel technology approach is focused on exploring potential treatment options for common ophthalmic diseases, such as glaucoma, that can cause blindness and severely affect patients’ quality of life.” UK biotech Quethera has been acquired by the Japanese firm Astellas Pharma in a $109m deal. Quethera has been developing a range of ophthalmic gene therapies with the intention of bringing novel treatments to glaucoma and eye disorders. The company was founded in 2009 as an offshoot from the University College London (UCL) Eye Research Institute. Astellas has been consolidating its position within gene therapies for eye disease, having forged a research agreement with Harvard Medical School in 2014 and a licensing agreement with CLINO Corporation in 2016, both for ophthalmic conditions.
UK biotech Quethera has been acquired by the Japanese firm Astellas Pharma in a $109m deal. Quethera has been developing a range of ophthalmic gene therapies with the intention of bringing novel treatments to glaucoma and eye disorders. The company was founded in 2009 as an offshoot from the University College London (UCL) Eye Research Institute. Astellas has been consolidating its position within gene therapies for eye disease, having forged a research agreement with Harvard Medical School in 2014 and a licensing agreement with CLINO Corporation in 2016, both for ophthalmic conditions.