Pharmacopeia, an innovator in the discovery and development of novel small therapeutics, has entered into an agreement with Allergan, Inc. of Irvine, California to evaluate proprietary active lead compounds, discovered at Pharmacopeia, in models of ocular disease.

The agreement resulted in an upfront cash payment from Allergan to Pharmacopeia, and may result in pre-clinical and clinical payments, plus milestone payments and royalties on drugs developed by Allergan in the field of ophthalmology. Pharmacopeia has retained rights to other therapeutic areas.

Pharmacopeia’s novel compounds target angiogenesis. Neovascularization in the eye is associated with the “wet” form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 55 years of age in the United States and other parts of the world. The compounds may represent a new means of treating wet AMD, and could represent an important new treatment option for this disease.

“Pharmacopeia is advancing its internal, wholly-owned drug candidates, focused on immunological diseases, to clinical validation and beyond,” said Dr. Les Browne, president and CEO of Pharmacopeia. "Partnering this program, which was initiated and advanced at Pharmacopeia, with Allergan, a recognized leader in ocular diseases, is consistent with our strategy of partnering programs outside of our therapeutic focus at earlier stages when it is advantageous to do so," Les Browne added.

Pharmacopeia creates and delivers novel therapeutics to address significant medical needs. Using proprietary technologies and processes, Pharmacopeia discovers and develops novel drug candidates to advance internally as well as with strategic partners.