Bayer HealthCare and the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., have entered into a five-year collaboration agreement to jointly develop new ophthalmic therapies targeting retinal diseases. The partners will jointly work on the discovery and development of innovative drugs for the treatment of serious back-of-the-eye diseases that affect many people worldwide, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, geographic atrophy, Stargardt's disease and retinal vein occlusion.

The goal of the strategic research alliance is to accelerate the translation of innovative approaches from the laboratory to the clinic, ultimately offering patients new treatment options for several retinal diseases.

Bayer and the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins will jointly conduct research activities evaluating new targets and disease mechanisms, drug delivery technologies and biomarkers for back-of-the-eye diseases with high unmet medical need. Both parties will contribute personnel and infrastructure to address important scientific questions. Bayer will have an option for the exclusive use of the collaboration results. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.