BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Santhera ophthalmic, musculoskeletal news

May 20, 2013 7:00 AM UTC

Santhera said the majority of shareholders at its annual shareholders' meeting supported the company's proposed business continuation and evaluation of all strategic options. In line with the proposal, Santhera said it is exploring product licensing or sale and the possibility of a merger and continues to implement its ongoing restructuring measures, including workforce reduction. Santhera said it has reduced its headcount to 12 full-time employees from 27 in 2012.

In its 2012 financial report, Santhera said it hoped to secure additional financing through a merger, sale or licensing by the end of 3Q13. The company said it will focus on preparing a new regulatory application for Raxone idebenone in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). In March, Santhera withdrew an MAA for Raxone to treat LHON following a negative CHMP opinion in January. The company plans to submit a new MAA for the ubiquinone analog, but has not disclosed a timeline. The company also said it will focus on the idebenone program in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is in Phase III testing (see BioCentury, March 25). ...