Living with glaucoma can sometimes feel frustrating, especially when many treatments focus mainly on lowering eye pressure without directly protecting against vision loss. That’s why recent news involving Bayer and Perfuse Therapeutics is getting attention across the eye health world.*

In May 2026, Bayer announced plans to acquire Perfuse Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $2.45 billion. The reason? A promising investigational therapy called PER-001 that could potentially change how glaucoma is treated in the future.

While this treatment is still being studied and is not yet approved for public use, early research results have many experts optimistic. Here’s what you should know about this exciting development and why it matters for people living with glaucoma.

What Is PER-001?

PER-001 is an investigational treatment being developed for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, two major causes of vision loss worldwide.

Unlike many current glaucoma treatments that mainly focus on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), PER-001 is designed to address another important factor in glaucoma progression: reduced blood flow to the optic nerve.

Researchers believe poor circulation and oxygen supply—also called ischemia—may contribute to damage in glaucoma. PER-001 targets the endothelin system, which plays a role in narrowing blood vessels and reducing blood flow.

In simple terms, the goal of PER-001 is to help improve circulation inside the eye and protect the optic nerve from ongoing damage.

Instead of only managing eye pressure, researchers hope PER-001 could eventually become a “disease-modifying” treatment. That means it may help slow or possibly change the underlying disease process itself.

Why Researchers Are Excited About This Therapy

Researchers are paying close attention to PER-001 because early clinical trials suggest it may help protect the eye in a completely different way than traditional glaucoma treatments.

In the Phase 1/2a glaucoma study, researchers enrolled 33 patients with glaucoma who were already using standard eye pressure-lowering treatments. The goal was to see whether adding PER-001 could improve blood flow and help protect the optic nerve over a 24-week (about six-month) period.

The treatment was delivered through a slow-release implant placed inside the eye, allowing the medication to work continuously over time instead of requiring daily dosing.

The study included both low-dose and high-dose treatment groups, along with a sham control group for comparison. Researchers measured several important markers tied to glaucoma progression, including:

• Visual field performance, which helps show how well patients can see in different areas of their vision
• Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, which reflects optic nerve health
• Blood flow inside the eye
• Overall safety and tolerability

According to Perfuse Therapeutics, patients who received PER-001 showed encouraging improvements compared to the control group. Researchers reported:

• Improved visual field results, meaning some patients showed better functional vision over time
• Increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, suggesting possible structural improvement in the optic nerve
• Improved blood flow to the optic nerve and retina
• A favorable safety profile during the six-month study period

One of the findings that generated the most excitement was that some glaucoma patients appeared to experience stabilization—or even improvement—in areas where doctors usually expect gradual decline.

Learn more about other emerging glaucoma treatments and how clinical studies work in our article, Latest Treatments and Clinical Studies in Glaucoma.

What Bayer’s Acquisition Means for Patients

When a large pharmaceutical company acquires a smaller biotech company, it often signals strong confidence in the science behind a treatment.

Bayer already has a growing ophthalmology portfolio, and adding PER-001 suggests the company believes this therapy has meaningful future potential.

That matters because large companies can help:

• Fund larger clinical trials
• Expand global research efforts
• Support manufacturing and distribution
• Move promising therapies through the regulatory process faster

For patients, this could increase the chances that innovative treatments eventually reach the market.

Still, it’s important to keep expectations realistic.

PER-001 remains investigational, meaning it has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More studies are still needed to confirm safety and effectiveness before it becomes widely available.

Clinical trials can take years, and not every promising therapy ultimately succeeds.

But developments like this offer hope that the future of glaucoma treatment may eventually move beyond pressure control alone.

Questions You Can Ask Your Doctor About PER-001

Even though PER-001 is still investigational, learning about therapies in development can help you have more informed conversations about your care. Here are a few questions you may want to ask your eye doctor:

• How is PER-001 different from current glaucoma treatments?
• Why is blood flow important in glaucoma?
• Could treatments like this help people whose glaucoma progresses despite controlled eye pressure?
• Are there any clinical trials studying therapies like PER-001 near me?
• What other new glaucoma treatments should I know about?
• Would I ever be a candidate for future research studies?
• How do doctors decide whether an investigational treatment is safe and effective?

Your doctor may not have all the answers yet, especially since the therapy is still being studied, but asking questions can help you stay informed and involved in your treatment decisions.

References: 

• Perfuse Therapeutics. (June 24, 2025). “Perfuse Therapeutics Announces Positive Results from Phase 2 Clinical Trials in Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy Patients.” perfusetherapeutics.com
• BusinessWire. (May 6, 2026). “Bayer to Acquire Perfuse Therapeutics to Complement Ophthalmology Pipeline.” businesswire.com

The information provided by The Glaucoma Community is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always talk with your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment or care. The Glaucoma Community does not endorse specific treatments, providers, or products.