Bausch & Lomb, the eye health company, and Galapagos NV, a drug discovery company, have entered into a collaborative research agreement pursuant to which Bausch & Lomb will have the exclusive option to license select Galapagos compounds as development candidates for therapeutic uses in ophthalmic diseases.

"The agreement provides access to a group of compounds that may have excellent development candidate potential," said, Praveen Tyle, chief scientific officer, Bausch & Lomb. "The small molecule compounds under evaluation have very attractive in vitro and in vivo profiles. Our intent is to develop these compounds as unique therapies, tapping our research expertise in ophthalmic diseases."

Bausch & Lomb is responsible for the preclinical and clinical development of the select compounds for use in ophthalmic diseases.

"We are pleased to partner with Bausch & Lomb, a leader in the development of treatments for eye diseases. Our collaboration with Bausch & Lomb gives us the opportunity to leverage select compounds in a therapeutic area that we would not otherwise pursue," said, Onno van de Stolpe, chief executive officer, Galapagos.