ISTA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (formerly Advanced Corneal Systems) was focused on the development and commercialization of new remedies for diseases and conditions of the eye and acquired in March of 2012. Through a collaboration with Japanese drug company Senju Pharmaceuticals, ISTA was making and selling Istalol (a glaucoma treatment) and Xibrom (used for pain and inflammation following cataract surgery) in the US. Its proprietary drug Vitrase was a spreading agent that promotes absorption of injected drugs. ISTA developed Vitrase for other uses, such as the treatment of vitreous hemorrhaging. Other drug candidates in ISTA's pipeline were treatments for allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye syndrome, both licensed from Senju. The firm's product candidates and programs addressed serious diseases and conditions of the eye such as vitreous hemorrhage, diabetic retinopathy, hyphema, glaucoma, ocular pain and inflammation.
