Tarsus completes Alkeus acquisition for retinal disease drug
- Tarsus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TARS) completed its acquisition of Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, adding retinal disease therapy gildeuretinol.
- The transaction gives Tarsus worldwide rights to ALK-001, an investigational oral treatment for Stargardt disease.
- ALK-001 is being evaluated in the Phase 3 NORTHSTAR trial, with topline data expected in 2029.
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TARS) completed its previously announced acquisition of Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, adding worldwide rights to investigational retinal disease therapy gildeuretinol (ALK-001).
The acquisition expands Tarsus’ ophthalmology portfolio by adding a late-stage oral medicine being developed for Stargardt disease, an inherited retinal disorder.
Tarsus stated that gildeuretinol is designed to reduce toxic dimer accumulation while preserving the normal visual cycle, and the company views the therapy as complementary to its eye care focus.
ALK-001 has received Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug, Fast Track, and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and is being studied in the global Phase 3 NORTHSTAR trial.
Following the announcement the Tarsus Pharmaceuticals share price was not provided in the announcement.
The company stated that topline data from the NORTHSTAR Phase 3 trial are expected in 2029, subject to the progress of the ongoing study.
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals develops therapies focused on eye care and related conditions, with the Alkeus acquisition expanding its pipeline into inherited retinal diseases.
