Eyecare company Bausch + Lomb has had a hole blown in its pharma pipeline, after disappointing trial results forced it to abandon a drug for improving vision in glaucoma that it had previously suggested could make peak sales of around $800 million a year.
The phase 2 trial of an eye drop formulation of BL1107 – described as a next-generation alpha2b adrenergic receptor agonist that can reduce the intraocular pressure that damages vision in glaucoma and also has neuroprotective properties – failed to show an improvement in visual function over 28 days in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
The study was unable to replace encouraging results with BL117 in a prior phase 1/2 trial, and also failed a series of secondary objectives, such as improving low-luminance best-corrected visual acuity responder rates. The safety profile was consistent with prior clinical experience with BL1107.
"Based on the totality of the data, the company has decided not to advance the programme in this indication as a topical eye drop," said the Canada-headquartered company in a statement.
Instead, it will turn its attention to its sustained-release implant formulation of BL1107 for geographic atrophy (GA), the second development for the asset, which Bausch + Lomb acquired when it took over Whitecap Biosciences last year.
The company has said it has "multiple shots on goal" in GA and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), another leading cause of sight loss, that could address a $1 billion-plus market.
It is developing the implant formulation of BL117 in partnership with Ripple Therapeutics, a specialist in controllable sustained delivery implants for use in the eye, and is planning to test intravitreal administration every three to six months in trials due to start in 2028. If all goes well, it could become the first small-molecule sustained-release implant for GA.
"Success in drug development is based on a portfolio, not a single programme," said Yehia Hashad, chief medical officer of Bausch + Lomb.
"We've intentionally built a diversified pipeline because we know innovation requires pursuing multiple scientific hypotheses simultaneously," he added. "Not every programme will succeed, but every study helps us make smarter decisions about where to invest."
The US-listed company – which is 88% owned by Bausch Health – has a pharma pipeline that also includes candidates for dry eye disease and ocular surface pain that it thinks could have collective peak sales potential of more than $2 billion.
Presented interim FRONTIER4 data evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of investigational denecimig across once-weekly, once-every-two-weeks, and once-monthly dosing in hemophilia A participants of all ages and disease severities1,2
Denecimig is an investigational subcutaneous FVIIIa-mimetic antibody under review with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)1
Separate phase 3 explorer10 data observed that concizumab reduced annualized bleeding rate compared to on-demand treatment in children with hemophilia A or B, with inhibitors
Iran is discussing a potential "full" opening of the "median lane" in the Strait of Hormuz with Qatari and Omani officials in Muscat, Axios correspondent Barak Ravid reported on Saturday, citing a regional source and a diplomat familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the three parties are holding discussions about the Middle Eastern waterway in Oman, and they are considering a possible statement on allowing "full and free" movement in the strait's central corridor, which is in international waters.
Meanwhile, previous reports claimed that Washington urged Iran to publicly confirm today that the waterway remains open and to commit to not attacking commercial ships.
The number of kids pulling the trigger in shootings in the city has skyrocketed 133% in the nine-year span since a lefty Albany law gave young offenders carte blanche to run amok, NYPD data obtained by The Post show.
Fifty-six children have been arrested or identified as suspects in shootings so far this year, more than twice as many at the same point in 2017 when there were 24, the data show.
The only time the number of teens arrested for shootings was higher was in 2021 when there were 57 and 2022 when there were 76, the data shows.
A 17-year-old was arrested for firing a burst of gunfire in Times Square last month.Robert Miller for NY Post
The controversial law, called Raise the Age, signed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2017 and later backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, bumped up the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, and allowed suspects as old as 21 to be housed in juvenile detention facilities rather than in adult jails.
“All these people are being treated like juveniles, and they’re going to family court, and they’re probably being released,” saidJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice adjunct professor Michael Alcazar, a former NYPD detective. “So the punishment isn’t being equated with the crime.”
NYPD Commissioner Tisch announced stunning statistics last week showing that the number of shootings being pinned on teens has increased to 21% from 19% at this time last year even as overall crime has dropped.
“Unfortunately, each year the percentage of those shooting incidents that are committed by kids, people under the age of 18,continues to rise,” said Tisch.
Teen shootings have happened across the city, with one sending Times Square tourists scrambling on June 19 when a 17-year-old fired a gun in broad daylight at West 44th Street and Broadway.
The young suspect, whose name wasn’t publicly released because he’s underage, was swiftly captured by cops, and a Glock pistol was recovered, law-enforcement sources said. He was charged with attempted murder, assault and weapon possession.
The teen was arrested quickly and police belive the shots may have been gang related.X/@RapidReport2025
Investigators were probing whether the gunfire stemmed from a bitter gang rivalry, according to the sources. It wasn’t clear if he was sent to a juvenile detention facility or released.
In another disturbing incident, a 15-year-old boy was shot and left paralyzed from the waist down on a rush-hour subway in Queens.
The victim was fighting with a 16-year-old who was with the shooter on April 27 as the train approached the 80th Street station in Ozone Park, Queens, prosecutors said. Matthew Rodriguez, 18, allegedly grabbed a firearm from the 16-year-old and fired multiple rounds, striking the teen, cops said.
A 15-year-old boy was shot in the right leg during a dispute with other teens at Stanton Street and Bowery on June 23.NYPD
Both Rodriguez and the 16-year-old were indicted on charges of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession. Rodriguez was ordered held without bail. His attorney didn’t return a call seeking comment.
The 16-year-old had allegedly shot and wounded the same 15-year-old in another incident in February, police sources said. It’s not clear if he was sent to a juvenile detention center or released.
“He’s paralyzed from the waist down,” the victim’s mother, who only wanted to be identified as Ms. Davidson, previously told The Post. “He had eight [blood] transfusions. Both of his jaws are broken. His lung is pierced and his liver is pierced as well.”
Myrna Rosado said she worries about her kids when they go out to Bronx parks.James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
Under Tisch, the department launched Youth Safety Zones to address youth violence during the school year, which are focused on the areas where young people are most at risk – commuter corridors, bus stops, and routes to and from school, an NYPD spokesperson said.
“Since its inception in September 2025 until the end of the school year in June 2026, major crime decreased 54%,” the spokesperson said. “Shooting incidents were down 69%, and shooting victims were down 69% in the zones during deployment hours.”
David Ramos said he doesn’t think age should be an issue if someone shoots a person.James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
“I live in the Bronx, and it happens constantly,” said Myrna Rosado, 63. “Sixteen and 15-year-olds go to the park, and innocent kids get hurt. It’s insane there.”
A Brooklyn carpenter said teen shooters shouldn’t be coddled.
“I would say that when you’re 16 you still know right from wrong,” said David Ramos, 45.
A man who idenified himself as Andrew S. said kids should face consequences.James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
“Age is not an issue for me,” he said. “If you do something horrible, you should be punished for it.”
One man said if kids are shooting guns they should face real consequences.
“I think that’s certain crimes, if it involves attempted murder, then it should be tried differently,” said the man, who gave his name as Andrew S. “Kids shouldn’t be taught that no matter what they do they won’t get in trouble.”
One half of thechampagne socialist duo who recruitedand failed to properly vet accused rapist Graham Platner was reportedly booted from a previous congressional campaign due to sexual misconduct accusations from at least three women.
Yale Law-educated Daniel Moraff, 31, the grandson of one of the Toys “R” Us founders, worked on the campaign to elect far-left “Squad” Rep. Summer Lee to Congress in Pennsylvania in 2022, after leading efforts to recruit her a few years before to run in state politics in Pittsburgh.
But he was quickly barred from campaign events and speaking to staffers after Lee received multiple sexual harassment complaints against him, according to labor publication Payday Report.
“Birds of a feather flock together and Moraff and Platner were predators,” said one of the unnamed women who claims she was sexually harassed by Moraff during Lee’s 2022 campaign.
Moraff, a political strategist, was allegedly sexually aggressive with volunteers and activists, according to the report.
“He doesn’t have boundaries with women, nor much of an ethical code,” said one woman who complained of his sexual misconduct in Pittsburgh, adding she wasn’t surprised Moraff backed Platner, whodropped out of the Maine Senate racethis week after a woman accused him of raping her while he was drunk.
After he got the boot from Lee, Moraff struggled to work as a political consultant, until he figured he could build a brand recruiting unusual politicians to appeal to white working-class voters disenfranchised with the Democratic Party.
The radical couple laughed in an embarrassing video when they were asked by the Wall Street Journal how they went about vetting the accused rapist, whose other scandals include a Nazi tattoo on his chest.
Moraff denied the allegations against him, blaming instead people resenting him for his desire to “challenge the political establishment.”
