DIET & NUTRITION 
PATIENT EDUCATION 
OBESITY/WEIGHT MANAGEMENT 
EXERCISE/TRAINING 
LEGAL MATTERS 
GUIDELINES/RECOMMENDATIONS Deal Snapshot
- Bayer will acquire Perfuse Therapeutics in a transaction worth up to $2.45 billion, including a $300 million upfront payment and milestone-tied development, regulatory, and commercial payments.
- The deal gives Bayer full rights to PER-001, an investigational endothelin receptor antagonist for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
- The acquisition expands Bayer’s ophthalmology portfolio, which already includes Eylea 2 mg and Eylea HD (8 mg) outside the US.
Drug Status
- PER-001 is currently in phase 2 clinical development for both glaucoma and DR.
- The therapy is delivered as a bio-erodible intravitreal implant administered via a single-use, 25-gauge applicator, designed for sustained release.
- The mechanism targets endothelin, a potent vasoconstrictor implicated in retinal inflammation and cell death.
- No phase 3 timeline, FDA submission date, or regulatory pathway has been publicly disclosed.
What Changes / What Stays the Same
- Changes: Bayer gains a differentiated candidate positioned as a potential neuroprotective therapy targeting ischemic and inflammatory mechanisms in glaucoma, distinct from current IOP-lowering approaches.
- Stays the same: Current glaucoma management remains IOP-based; PER-001 is not approved and is years from any potential market entry.
- Stays the same: Anti-VEGF therapy remains the standard for DR management; PER-001’s role would be complementary, pending efficacy and safety data.
Watch For
- Phase 2 readouts on visual field outcomes in glaucoma and contrast sensitivity and ischemia measures in DR.
- Safety and tolerability data for the intravitreal implant delivery system.
- Regulatory pathway communications and any fast-track or breakthrough designations.
- Competitive positioning against other neuroprotective glaucoma candidates in development.
