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Astellas Pharma acquires Quethera
Astellas Pharma has acquired the U.K.-based gene therapy company Quethera, which is developing novel treatment for ocular disorders, Astellas announced in a press release.
The transaction includes Quethera’s ophthalmic gene therapy program, which uses a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector system to introduce therapeutic genes into target retinal cells to treat glaucoma, the release said.
“This acquisition demonstrates Astellas’ commitment to proactively incorporate state-of-the-art scientific and technological advances and turn them into value for patients,” Kenji Yasukawa, PhD, Astellas president and CEO, said in the release. “We believe the rAAV program has potential as a new therapeutic option for the treatment of refractory glaucoma through an intraocular pressure-independent mechanism. It would address a high unmet medical need in glaucoma patients who are at risk of losing their eyesight.”