Recordati gains rights to ROP drug know-how

Italian drugmaker Recordati (RECI: MI) has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement covering the know-how developed by the Meyer Hospital in Florence (Italy) for the development of a treatment for pre-term babies affected by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

The treatment is currently being investigated in a Phase II clinical trial by the Meyer Hospital, while Recordati will complete the clinical development and the regulatory steps necessary to obtain the marketing approval for the drug. Furthermore, within the deal, Recordati will support other Meyer projects in the rare disease area over a period of three years based on a mutually agreed plan. This represents a collaboration between public and private institutions which recognizes the important results obtained by the internal research conducted by the pediatric hospital in Florence.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants weighing about 1.25 kg or less that are born before 31 weeks of gestation (a full-term pregnancy has a gestation of 38-42 weeks). The smaller a baby is at birth, the more likely that baby is to develop ROP. This disorder-which usually develops in both eyes-is a rare condition, however presenting as one of the most common causes of visual loss in childhood that can lead to lifelong vision impairment and blindness.