Glaucoma Competitive Landscape

DelveInsight’s, “Glaucoma - Competitive landscape, 2025,” report provides comprehensive insights about 45+ companies and 50+ drugs in Glaucoma Competitive landscape. It covers the therapeutics assessment by product type, stage, route of administration, and molecule type. It further highlights the inactive pipeline products in this space.

Geography Covered

• Global coverage

Glaucoma: Understanding

Glaucoma: Overview

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, glaucoma describes a group of conditions in which there is characteristic cupping of the optic disc with corresponding visual field defects due to retinal ganglion cell loss. It is a progressive condition and the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The two major categories of glaucoma are open-angle glaucoma and narrow-angle glaucoma/angle-closure glaucoma. The “angle” in both cases refers to the drainage angle inside the eye that controls the outflow of the watery fluid (aqueous) which is being produced inside the eye.

Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is the most common form of the disease. The drainage angle formed by the cornea and iris remains open, but the trabecular meshwork is partially blocked. This causes pressure in the eye to increase gradually and damages the optic nerve. It happens so slowly that the patient may lose vision before they are even aware of a problem, while in the case of narrow-angle glaucoma, the structure inside the eye that allows fluid to drain normally from the eye (called the drainage angle) becomes restricted. Narrow drainage angles in the eye increase the risk of the drainage angle that gets blocked, resulting in a significant increase in eye pressure and risk of vision loss. If this occurs, narrow-angle glaucoma is usually called angle-closure glaucoma.

Most people with glaucoma do not notice symptoms until they begin to lose eyesight. As glaucoma damages optic nerve fibers, small blind spots may begin to develop. These spots usually occur on the side or in the peripheral vision. Many people do not notice the blind spots until significant optic nerve damage has already happened. Blindness can result when the entire nerve is destroyed.

Given the asymptomatic development of early-stage glaucoma, the disease often progresses significantly before it is detected. For many years, it was believed that glaucoma affected primarily peripheral vision and central vision was left unharmed until very late in the disease. Contrary to this dogma, research now shows that loss of peripheral vision is not an early indication of the disease, and that the full range of vision (peripheral and central) is often affected. Further, the visual field tests are not sensitive to early vision losses. By the time glaucoma is detected by a peripheral field test in many patients, more than half of the optic nerve fibers are damaged or have perished. Research is ongoing to perfect better tests for central vision that can detect the disease in earlier stages.

It is an inherited disease, meaning that if person have a family history of glaucoma, person are at increased risk. Additional risk factors include thin corneas or people with thinning of the optic nerve, general health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and circulatory problems, and other eye issues like extreme myopia and hyperopia.

There is no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect the vision. Doctors use a few different types of treatment for glaucoma, including medicines (usually eye drops), laser treatment, and surgery.

Report Highlights

• In May 2025, Palatin Technologies, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company advancing innovative treatments targeting the melanocortin receptor system, announced new preclinical data for PL9588, a novel melanocortin receptor agonist, presented at the 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. The findings support the potential of PL9588 as a topical treatment for glaucoma, combining both IOP-lowering and neuroprotective effects.
• In May 2025, Perfuse Therapeutics, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company pioneering transformational therapies to treat ischemia-induced ocular diseases, announced positive 24-week results from its completed Phase I/IIa trial of PER-001, a first in class endothelin antagonist intravitreal implant for glaucoma.
• In March 2025, TME Pharma N.V a clinical stage biotechnology company, and the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) announced that an abstract highlighting data from preclinical studies performed with mNOX-E36 by SERI has been selected for poster presentation at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2025 Annual Meeting. Preclinical data show that mNOX-E36 is as efficacious as standard of care mitomycin C (MMC) at attenuating post-operative inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) following glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS), a common procedure to reduce intraocular pressure while having a much more favorable safety profile. Unlike MMC, mNOX-E36 does not destroy blood vessels in the conjunctiva, potentially overcoming the substantial toxicity seen with MMC which is a key limitation of this current standard treatment.
• In June 2024, NurExone Biologic Inc. announced a pre-clinical study to explore the potential of NurExone’s exosome-based therapies in regenerating damaged optic nerves. The study, initiated by renowned ophthalmologist and serial entrepreneur Prof. Michael Belkin from Tel Aviv University's Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, and led by the principal investigators Prof. Ygal Rotenstreich and Dr. Ifat Sher from the Sheba Medical Center Eye Institute1, is the latest step in expanding potential clinical indications for Nurexone Biologic's exosome-loaded drugs.
• In January 2024, Nicox announced that USPTO has determined that the US Patent No. 7,629,345, which covers latanoprostene bunod, commercialized by Bausch + Lomb under the trademark VYZULTA, is eligible for patent term extension of five years. Nicox has also applied for patent term extension of two other patents covering latanoprostene bunod, US patent numbers 7,273,946 and 8,058,467.
• Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are using a novel approach to hopefully develop a new therapy for glaucoma, a complex disease that eventually leads to blindness. The project will focus on developing a new glaucoma therapeutic by testing human neurons and a regenerative therapy to rescue visual neurons from dying preclinically in human eyes under glaucoma conditions. This combination has never been used before.

Glaucoma: Company and Product Profiles (Marketed Therapies)

1. Company Overview: Bausch & Lomb

Bausch & Lomb, a subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies, is a vision-care company with focus on the protection, enhancement and restoration of eyesight. It provides over-the-counter supplements, eye care products, contact lenses, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. The company develops, manufactures and markets eye health products for the treatment of a wide range of eye conditions such as conjunctivitis, glaucoma, eye allergies, dry eye and retinal diseases. It has presence across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Bausch & Lomb is headquartered in New Jersey, United States.

Product Description: VYZULTA

VYZULTA (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024%, is used to lower intraocular (eye) pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. VYZULTA is a nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin F2-alpha analog. This unique aspect of the drug's mechanism, the donation of nitric oxide, gives it an efficacy edge in lowering IOP compared to latanoprost alone. It works by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor through both the trabecular meshwork and uveoscleral routes. By regulating the flow of fluid within the eye, it effectively reduces intraocular pressure, a critical factor in preventing glaucoma progression and associated visual field loss.

2. Company Overview: Alcon

Alcon is the global leader in eye care, dedicated to helping people see brilliantly. With an over 75-year heritage, the company is the largest eye care device company in the world, with complementary businesses in Surgical and Vision Care. Being a truly global company, and work in 60 countries and serve patients in more than 140 countries. The company have a long history of industry firsts, and each year it commit a substantial amount in Research and Development to meet customer needs and patient demands.

Product Description: Travatan Z

TRAVATAN Z® (travoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.004% is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The recommended dosage is one drop in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening. TRAVATAN Z should not be administered more than once daily since it has been shown that more frequent administration of prostaglandin analogs may decrease the IOP-lowering effect. Reduction of the IOP starts approximately 2 hours after the first administration with maximum effect reached after 12 hours. TRAVATAN Z may be used concomitantly with other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower IOP. If more than one topical ophthalmic drug is being used, the drugs should be administered at least 5 minutes apart.

Glaucoma: Company and Product Profiles (Pipeline Therapies)

1. Company Overview: Nicox Ophthalmics

Nicox is an international ophthalmic company developing innovative therapeutics to help maintain vision and improve ocular health. The vision is to become a fully integrated ophthalmic pharmaceutical company with a direct presence in the US and in the major European markets.

Product Description: NCX 470

NCX 470 is a novel, second-generation nitric oxide (NO)-donating prostaglandin analog that is currently being developed by Nicox Ophthalmics. NCX-470 may assist glaucoma patients by a mechanism other than IOP lowering, notably by enhancing ocular perfusion. IOP reduction is the most common treatment for glaucoma, and preliminary studies suggest that if approved, NCX-470's dual mechanistic approach (nitric oxide donation and prostaglandin F2 activity) could make it the most effective single-agent glaucoma medicine in terms of IOP-lowering efficacy. Currently, the drug is in Phase III stage of its clinical study for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

2. Company Overview: Qlaris Bio

Qlaris Bio discovers and develops novel therapeutics targeting ophthalmic diseases. The company’s lead program QLS-101, a novel topical ocular therapy, that lowers intraocular pressure with ATP sensitive potassium (KATP) channel modulator, by lowering episcleral venous pressure (EVP) and improves outflow distal to the trabecular meshwork. It is also investigating EVP-targeted therapies targeting sturge-weber syndrome and normal tension glaucoma. The company is a spinout of Qrativ a biotechnology incubator between Mayo Clinic and Nference. Qlaris Bio is headquartered in Wellesley, Massachusetts, the US.

Product Description: QLS-101

QLS-101, Qlaris Bio’s lead product candidate, is a prodrug of levcromakalim, an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel modulator. By lowering episcleral venous pressure (EVP) and increasing aqueous humor outflow through vessels distal to the trabecular meshwork, QLS-101 may be able to uniquely address diseases of pathologic EVP resulting in elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), such as Sturge-Weber syndrome-related glaucoma, and diseases where EVP limits maximal therapy, including primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma. QLS-101 was invented at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota and is being developed under an exclusive worldwide license.

In the Phase II clinical trial, study findings demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile for QLS-101, including no evidence of hyperemia (eye redness) as well as a positive efficacy signal in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension. Currently, the drug is in Phase II stage of its clinical study for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

3. Company Overview: Perfuse Therapeutics

Perfuse Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering transformational therapies to treat ischemia-induced ocular diseases. Enabled by its proprietary sustained-release drug delivery platform, the Company is developing a robust pipeline of novel assets against validated targets. Headquartered in South San Francisco, California, and with R&D facilities in Durham, North Carolina, Perfuse Therapeutics has established a strong team committed to advancing disease-modifying therapies to patients with ocular disease around the world.

Product Description: PER-001

PER-001 is a novel (new chemical entity), first-in-class small molecule endothelin receptor antagonist. Endothelin is the most potent vasoconstrictor in the human body and is upregulated in glaucoma. Endothelin is involved in inflammation and cell death through its receptors expressed in retinal vascular and neuroretinal cells. The PER-001 intravitreal implant is a bio-erodible implant administered into the vitreous cavity of the eye using a single-use, 25-gauge applicator and designed to provide a sustained release of PER-001, allowing for a convenient every 6 months dosing frequency. The drug is currently in Phase I/II stage of its development for the treatment of glaucoma.

Further product details are provided in the report……..

Glaucoma Analytical Perspective by DelveInsight

In-depth Commercial Assessment: Glaucoma Collaboration Analysis by Companies

The Report provides in-depth commercial assessment of drugs that have been included, which comprises collaboration, agreement, licensing and acquisition – deals values trends. The sub-segmentation is described in the report which provide company-company collaboration (licensing/partnering), company academic collaboration and acquisition analysis in tabulated form.

Glaucoma Competitive Landscape

The report comprises of comparative assessment of Companies (by therapy, development stage, and technology).

Glaucoma Report Assessment

• Company Analysis
• Therapeutic Assessment
• Pipeline Assessment
• Inactive drugs assessment
• Unmet Needs

Key Questions

Current Treatment Scenario and Emerging Therapies:

• How many companies are developing Glaucoma drugs?
• How many Glaucoma drugs are developed by each company?
• How many emerging drugs are in mid-stage, and late-stage of development for the treatment of Glaucoma?
• What are the key collaborations (Industry–Industry, Industry–Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, licensing activities related to the Glaucoma therapeutics?
• What are the recent trends, drug types and novel technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing therapies?
• What are the clinical studies going on for Glaucoma and their status?
• What are the key designations that have been granted to the emerging and approved drugs?