Irvine-based drug maker Allergan Inc. on Monday signed a licensing deal to develop and market its Posurdex back-of-the eye treatment implant with Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co. of Japan.
Under the deal, Sanwa will be responsible for developing and commercializing Posurdex in Japan and pay a royalty to Allergan based on net sales of Posurdex and other milestone payments and reimbursements.
Posurdex is implanted at the back of a patient’s eye and delivers dexamethasone, a drug that relieves inflammation. It’s used to treat persistent macular edema, or swelling, at the back of the eye.
Allergan acquired Posurdex through its 2003 buy of Oculex Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Sunnyvale.
Sanwa and Allergan estimate that Japan’s annual macular edema market could exceed $100 million.
