The company confirmed that BL1107 failed to replicate the visual function improvements seen in earlier phase 1/2 testing. While the eye-drop application is off the table, Bausch + Lomb intends to pivot the asset toward geographic atrophy. The firm will continue its partnership with Ripple Therapeutics to develop the drug as a sustained-release implant, with clinical trials for this new indication slated for 2028.

Bausch + Lomb originally acquired the drug via its 2025 purchase of Whitecap Biosciences. Although the primary goal of that acquisition was the geographic atrophy treatment, the company had experimented with the topical drop after observing intriguing early data. Chief Medical Officer Yehia Hashad noted that the firm intentionally maintains a diversified pipeline to manage the inherent risks of drug development, emphasizing that unsuccessful programs remain part of the iterative process. Following the announcement, the stock price dropped to $15.98 in after-hours trading, deepening the company's 2.1% decline for the year.