12 March 2020 - - US-based Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALDX) (Aldeyra) has decided on the strategic prioritisation of late-stage ocular disease programmes in allergic conjunctivitis, dry eye disease, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy, the company said.

In conjunction with the strategic prioritization, Aldeyra appointed ophthalmology drug development expert James A. Gow, M.D., as senior vice president of clinical development.

Aldeyra has elected to place on hold clinical development of topical dermal reproxalap for the treatment of ichthyosis associated with Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome and ADX-1612 for the treatment of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

The initiatives to prioritize Aldeyra's ocular portfolio are expected to extend the company's cash runway through the end of 2021.

Prior to joining Aldeyra, Dr. Gow served as vice president, Global Development Lead for lifitegrast (Xiidra) on global clinical development projects at Novartis AG.

He also served in similar roles at Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc. and at Takeda Pharmaceutical company Ltd. following Takeda's acquisition of Shire in January 2019.

During his career, Dr. Gow has held leadership positions of increasing responsibility at ISTA Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Bausch and Lomb, Inc.), Bausch and Lomb, Inc. (acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., now Bausch Health Companies Inc.), Alcon Research, Ltd., and Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corp. (merged with Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). He received his M.D. from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg in Canada.

Aldeyra also announced that David J. Clark, M.D., its former chief medical officer, has transitioned to a consulting role.

Aldeyra Therapeutics is a biotechnology company devoted to developing and commercializing next-generation medicines to improve the lives of patients with immune-mediated diseases. Aldeyra's lead investigational drug product candidates are potential first-in-class treatments in development for dry eye disease, allergic conjunctivitis, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

The company is also developing other product candidates for retinal and systemic inflammatory diseases.