Transaction Includes U.S. and Canadian
Commercial Rights to FLAREX®, NATACYN®, TOBRADEX® ST, VERKAZIA®,
ZERVIATE®, and Non-Prescription Brands FRESHKOTE® and Cationorm®
PLUS
Harrow (Nasdaq: HROW), a leading U.S. eyecare pharmaceutical
company, today announced the signing of agreements with affiliates
of Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Santen”) under which Harrow
will acquire certain U.S. and Canadian commercial rights for the
following branded products from Santen:
U.S. Products:
- FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%, a
corticosteroid indicated for use in the treatment of
steroid-responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and
bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the eye.
- NATACYN® (natamycin ophthalmic suspension) 5%, a sterile
antifungal indicated for the treatment of fungal blepharitis,
conjunctivitis, and keratitis caused by susceptible organisms,
including Fusarium solani keratitis.
- TOBRADEX® ST (tobramycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic
suspension) 0.3%/0.05%, an antibiotic and corticosteroid
combination for steroid-responsive inflammatory ocular conditions
for which a corticosteroid is indicated and where superficial
bacterial ocular infection or a risk of bacterial ocular infection
exists.
- VERKAZIA® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1%, a
calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant indicated for the treatment
of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in children and adults and
holds orphan-drug exclusivity.
- ZERVIATE® (cetirizine ophthalmic solution) 0.24%, a histamine-1
(H1) receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of ocular itching
associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
- FRESHKOTE®, used as a lubricant to reduce further irritation or
to relieve dryness of the eye.
Canadian Products:
- VERKAZIA® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1%, a
calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant indicated for the treatment
of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in children from four years of
age through adolescence.
- Cationorm® PLUS, a preservative-free emulsion for the treatment
of dry eye symptoms and for the treatment of signs and symptoms of
ocular allergy.
Please see select Important Safety Information for these
products and links to the Full Prescribing Information at the end
of this release.
In commenting on the transaction, Mark L. Baum, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Harrow, stated, “This acquisition
furthers Harrow’s goal of becoming a leader in the top tier of U.S.
ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies, makes Harrow’s branded
portfolio one of the most comprehensive in the U.S. market, and is
expected to be immediately financially accretive upon the transfer
of the product marketing authorizations. We are excited to add
several high utility and trusted products that serve the ophthalmic
surgical market, a market in which we already have a strong
presence, and significantly expand the breadth of our portfolio,
which will now include the only FDA‑approved ophthalmic antifungal;
a patented and ‘orphan-designated’ product for the nearly 50,000
Americans suffering from the rare disease vernal
keratoconjunctivitis (or VKC); a patented prescription drug to
treat ocular itching associated with allergies; and two patented
non-prescription brands serving patients managing dry eye
symptoms.”
Richard L. Lindstrom, M.D. added, “As an ophthalmic surgeon of
nearly 50 years and an advisor to Mark and the Harrow leadership
team for many years, I am pleased to see Harrow step up and
assemble not only a formidable posterior segment offering with
products like IHEEZO® and TRIESENCE®, but also an impressive array
of innovative anterior segment products that U.S. ophthalmologists
and optometrists rely on to care for their patients. While some
ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies have decided to place less
emphasis on the anterior segment despite the growing demand in this
category of eyecare, with this acquisition, few companies, if any,
can match the scope and depth of Harrow’s ophthalmic product
offerings, especially in the anterior segment. I believe this level
of commitment to the eyecare professional should further strengthen
and expand the many relationships Harrow has been able to forge
over the past 10 years.”
Financing for the transaction was provided through the expansion
of Harrow’s secured credit facility with funds managed by Oaktree
Capital Management, L.P. Harrow management expects the transaction
to reduce the Company’s aggregate leverage ratio of adjusted EBITDA
to debt.
About Harrow Harrow Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: HROW) is a
leading U.S. eyecare pharmaceutical company engaged in the
discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative
ophthalmic prescription therapies that are accessible and
affordable. Harrow owns U.S. commercial rights to ten branded
FDA-approved ophthalmic pharmaceutical products. Harrow also owns
and operates ImprimisRx, a leading U.S. ophthalmic‑focused
pharmaceutical compounding business, which also serves as a
mail-order pharmacy licensed to ship prescription medications in
all 50 states. Harrow has non-controlling equity positions in
Surface Ophthalmics, Inc. and Melt Pharmaceuticals, Inc., companies
that began as subsidiaries of Harrow. Harrow also owns royalty
rights in four late-stage drug candidates being developed by
Surface and Melt.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this
release that are not historical facts may be considered such
“forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are based
on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and
uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially and
adversely from the statements contained herein. Some of the
potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ from those predicted include, among others, risks related
to: liquidity or results of operations; our ability to successfully
implement our business plan, develop and commercialize our
products, product candidates and proprietary formulations in a
timely manner or at all, identify and acquire additional products,
manage our pharmacy operations, service our debt, obtain financing
necessary to operate our business, recruit and retain qualified
personnel, manage any growth we may experience and successfully
realize the benefits of our previous acquisitions and any other
acquisitions and collaborative arrangements we may pursue;
competition from pharmaceutical companies, outsourcing facilities
and pharmacies; general economic and business conditions, including
inflation and supply chain challenges; regulatory and legal risks
and uncertainties related to our pharmacy operations and the
pharmacy and pharmaceutical business in general; and physician
interest in and market acceptance of our current and any future
formulations and compounding pharmacies generally. These and
additional risks and uncertainties are more fully described in
Harrow’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q. Such documents may be read free of charge on
the SEC's web site at sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed
on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they
are made. Except as required by law, Harrow undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new
information, events, or circumstances after the date they are made,
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Information for U.S. Products:
About FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension)
0.1%
INDICATIONS AND USAGE FLAREX® (fluorometholone acetate
ophthalmic suspension) 0.1% is indicated for use in the treatment
of steroid responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and
bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the eye.
CONTRAINDICATIONS Contraindicated in acute superficial
herpes simplex keratitis, vaccinia, varicella, and most other viral
diseases of cornea and conjunctiva; mycobacterial infection of the
eye; fungal diseases; acute purulent untreated infections, which
like other diseases caused by microorganisms, may be masked or
enhanced by the presence of the steroid; and in those persons who
have known hypersensitivity to any component of this
preparation.
SELECT WARNINGS FOR TOPICAL OPHTHALMIC USE. NOT FOR
INJECTION. Use in the treatment of herpes simplex infection
requires great caution. Prolonged use may result in glaucoma,
damage to the optic nerve, defect in visual acuity and visual
field, cataract formation and/or may aid in the establishment of
secondary ocular infections from pathogens due to suppression of
host response. Acute purulent infections of the eye may be masked
or exacerbated by presence of steroid medication. Topical
ophthalmic corticosteroids may slow corneal wound healing. In those
diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforation has
been known to occur. If these products are used for 10 days or
longer, intraocular pressure (IOP) should be routinely
monitored.
ADVERSE REACTIONS Glaucoma with optic nerve damage,
visual acuity and field defects, cataract formation, secondary
ocular infection following suppression of host response, and
perforation of the globe may occur.
For complete product information about FLAREX®, including
important safety information, please visit:
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=19918ea5-8568-44d6-b8ee-7b2197cee85c.
About NATACYN® (natamycin ophthalmic suspension) 5%
INDICATIONS AND USAGE NATACYN® (natamycin ophthalmic
suspension) 5% is indicated for the treatment of fungal
blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and keratitis caused by susceptible
organisms including Fusarium solani keratitis. As in other forms of
suppurative keratitis, initial and sustained therapy of fungal
keratitis should be determined by the clinical diagnosis,
laboratory diagnosis by smear and culture of corneal scrapings and
drug response. Whenever possible the in vitro activity of natamycin
against the responsible fungus should be determined. The
effectiveness of natamycin as a single agent in fungal
endophthalmitis has not been established.
CONTRAINDICATIONS NATACYN® (natamycin ophthalmic
suspension) 5% is contraindicated in individuals with a history of
hypersensitivity to any of its components.
SELECT PRECAUTIONS General: FOR TOPICAL OPHTHALMIC USE
ONLY — NOT FOR INJECTION. Failure of improvement of keratitis
following 7-10 days of administration of the drug suggests that the
infection may be caused by a microorganism not susceptible to
natamycin.
ADVERSE REACTIONS The following events have been
identified during post-marketing use of NATACYN ® (natamycin
ophthalmic suspension) 5% in clinical practice: allergic reaction,
change in vision, chest pain, corneal opacity, dyspnea, eye
discomfort, eye edema, eye hyperemia, eye irritation, eye pain,
foreign body sensation, paresthesia, and tearing.
For complete product information about NATACYN®, including
important safety information, please visit:
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=2818fcb8-5bac-41fb-864e-3b598308a428.
About TOBRADEX® ST (tobramycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic
suspension) 0.3%/0.05%
INDICATIONS AND USAGE TOBRADEX® ST ophthalmic suspension
is indicated for steroid-responsive inflammatory ocular conditions
for which a corticosteroid is indicated and where superficial
bacterial ocular infection or a risk of bacterial ocular infection
exists.
CONTRAINDICATIONS Nonbacterial Etiology: TOBRADEX® ST, as
with other ophthalmic corticosteroids, is contraindicated in most
viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva, including epithelial
herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, and
varicella, and also in mycobacterial infection of the eye and
fungal diseases of ocular structures.
Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity to a component of the
medication.
SELECT WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Intraocular Pressure
Increase: Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in glaucoma
with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields
of vision. If this product is used for 10 days or longer,
intraocular pressure (IOP) should be monitored.
Aminoglycoside Sensitivity: Sensitivity to topically applied
aminoglycosides may occur.
Cataracts: Use of corticosteroids may result in posterior
subcapsular cataract formation.
Delayed Healing: The use of steroids after cataract surgery may
delay healing.
Bacterial Infections: Prolonged use of corticosteroids may
suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of
secondary ocular infections.
Viral Infections: Use in patients with a history of herpes
simplex requires great caution as it may prolong the course and may
exacerbate the severity of many viral infections of the eye
(including herpes simplex).
Fungal Infections: Fungal infections of the cornea are
particularly prone to develop coincidentally with long‑term local
steroid application.
Vision Blurred: Vision may be temporarily blurred following
dosing with TOBRADEX ST. Care should be exercised in operating
machinery or driving a motor vehicle.
Risk of Contamination: Do not touch the dropper tip of the
bottle to any surface, as this may contaminate the contents.
Contact Lens Use: TOBRADEX® ST contains benzalkonium chloride,
an antimicrobial preservative, that may be absorbed by soft contact
lenses. Contact lenses should not be worn during the use of
TOBRADEX ST.
ADVERSE REACTIONS Clinical Trials Experience: The most
frequent adverse reactions to topical ocular tobramycin (TOBREX ®)
are hypersensitivity and localized ocular toxicity, including eye
pain, eyelids pruritus, eyelid edema, and conjunctival hyperemia.
These reactions occur in less than 4% of patients.
For complete product information about TOBRADEX® ST, including
important safety information, please visit:
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c2d7325e-4f58-5590-e053-2a95a90ace1b.
About VERKAZIA® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion)
0.1%
INDICATIONS AND USAGE VERKAZIA® ophthalmic emulsion is
indicated for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in
children and adults.
ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common adverse reactions
reported in greater than 5% of patients were eye pain (12%) and eye
pruritus (8%) which were usually transitory and occurred during
instillation.
For complete product information about VERKAZIA®, including
important safety information, please visit:
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c795cd2f-89da-78e3-e053-2a95a90a9422.
About ZERVIATE® (cetirizine ophthalmic solution)
0.24%
INDICATIONS AND USAGE ZERVIATE® (cetirizine ophthalmic
solution) 0.24% is indicated for the treatment of ocular itching
associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
SELECT WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Contamination of Tip and
Solution: As with any eye drop, care should be taken not to touch
the eyelids or surrounding areas with the dropper tip of the bottle
or tip of the single-use container in order to avoid injury to the
eye and to prevent contaminating the tip and solution. Keep the
multi-dose bottle closed when not in use. Discard the single-use
container after using in each eye.
Contact Lens Wear: Patients should be advised not to wear a
contact lens if their eye is red.
ZERVIATE should not be instilled while wearing contact
lenses.
ADVERSE REACTIONS The most commonly reported adverse
reactions occurred in approximately 1–7% of patients treated with
either ZERVIATE or vehicle. These reactions were ocular hyperemia,
instillation site pain, and visual acuity reduced.
For complete product information about ZERVIATE®, including
important safety information, please visit:
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3e6fecc1-df71-4c01-a654-f55635617a7f.
Information for Canadian Products
About VERKAZIA® (cyclosporine topical ophthalmic emulsion)
0.1% w/v
Verkazia (cyclosporine) is indicated for treatment of severe
vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children from four years of age
through adolescence.
For complete Canadian product information about Verkazia,
including important safety information, please visit:
https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00048991.PDF.
About Cationorm® PLUS
Cationorm® PLUS is an ophthalmic sterile preservative-free eye
drop emulsion used for:
treatment of dry eye symptoms: It helps to hydrate, lubricate
and protect the ocular surface. It is recommended for the relief of
dry eye symptoms characterized by stinging, itching or burning eyes
or by a foreign body sensation (sand, dust, etc.).
treatment of signs and symptoms of ocular allergy: It is
recommended for the relief of ocular allergy symptoms characterized
by itching, tearing, mucous discharge and photophobia, and the
protection of the ocular surface (corneal staining improvement).
Cationorm® PLUS can be used in children from four years old.
Do not use Cationorm® PLUS if you are allergic to any of the
components of the product. This product is not intended for
treating other eye conditions. Please consult your doctor or
pharmacist if you have any questions. If you currently use other
eye drops, you should wait at least 5 minutes between the
administrations of each successive eye drop. It is recommended to
use Cationorm® PLUS last.
Cationorm® PLUS is compatible with all kinds of contact
lenses.
In very rare cases, a transient ocular discomfort such as: eye
irritation, eye pain, eye redness, watery eyes, eye discharge,
temporarily blurred vision, eyelids inflammation, eyelids edema or
transient discomfort at instillation can appear. These symptoms are
also part of typical symptoms of dry eye disease linked to the
underlying existing medical conditions in the patient’s eyes
suffering from dry eye or ocular allergy.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230718938608/en/
Investors Jamie Webb
Director of Communications and Investor Relations
jwebb@harrowinc.com 615-733-4737
Media Deb Holliday Holliday
Communications, Inc. deb@hollidaycommunications.net
412-877-4519
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