SARcode Bioscience

About SARcode Bioscience

SARcode Bioscience, founded in 2006, was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for inflammatory diseases, primarily in the field of ophthalmology. The company's core business revolved around the development of small-molecule lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) antagonists. This class of molecules was engineered to be a topical agent for diseases with significant unmet medical needs, such as dry eye disease.

The company's primary asset was lifitegrast, an investigational drug designed to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye. Lifitegrast works by blocking the interaction between two proteins, LFA-1 and ICAM-1, which is a key mechanism in the inflammatory cycle associated with dry eye disease. This inhibition reduces T-cell mediated inflammation on the ocular surface. The product, formulated as a preservative-free topical eye solution, was developed to provide relief to the estimated 25 million people in the U.S. affected by this chronic condition.

SARcode's business model was centered on research and development, funded by venture capital. The company successfully raised capital through Series A and Series B funding rounds, with investors including Alta Partners, Rho Ventures, and Sofinnova Investments. Its strategy culminated in a major milestone in March 2013, when the company announced its acquisition by Shire plc, a global specialty biopharmaceutical firm. The deal involved an upfront payment of $160 million, with potential for further payments based on achieving regulatory and commercial milestones. This acquisition provided Shire with a late-stage asset to build out its new ophthalmology division. Following the acquisition, the SARcode team remained to oversee the submission of the New Drug Application to the FDA. The drug, later branded as Xiidra, received FDA approval in July 2016, marking it as the first prescription eye drop approved to treat both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.