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Venture-backed ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company developing LFA-1 antagonists for dry eye disease; acquired by Shire in 2013.
Also known as SARcode Bioscience · SARcode Bioscience, Inc. · SARcode Corporation
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026SARcode, incorporated as SARcode Corporation and later known as SARcode Bioscience, Inc., was an ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company founded in 2006. It was based in San Francisco, California as of early 2011 and in Brisbane, California by 2013. Its lead development program was a novel class of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) antagonists for the treatment of T-cell mediated inflammatory diseases.
The company's lead compound was designated SAR 1118 and later named lifitegrast, a small-molecule integrin antagonist blocking the LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction, a target in the chronic dry eye inflammatory cycle involving T-cell activation, proliferation, migration and inflammatory cytokine release. The compound was described as applicable to a broad range of ocular inflammatory conditions including dry eye, uveitis and diabetic macular edema. By 2011 it had shown improvements in signs and symptoms of dry eye as early as 12 weeks in a Phase 2 trial; by March 2013 the program had advanced to two pivotal Phase 3 studies, OPUS-1 and OPUS-2, alongside a year-long safety study called SONATA, in support of a planned New Drug Application to the FDA.
Founding story
SARcode was founded in 2006 as a venture-backed ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company focused on LFA-1 antagonists for T-cell mediated inflammatory diseases.
Business model
Development-stage biopharmaceutical model: discovery and clinical development of proprietary small-molecule ophthalmic therapeutics funded by institutional venture capital, with value realized through acquisition by a larger specialty pharmaceutical company.
Traction
Lifitegrast had been studied in over 900 subjects by March 2013, demonstrating statistical significance in several signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in some studies, including dose-dependent improvements in corneal and conjunctival staining and improvements in eye dryness and ocular discomfort, with the most common ocular adverse events being generally mild and transient instillation site complaints. The Phase 3 program comprised OPUS-1, the 700-patient OPUS-2 study started in early 2013, and the SONATA year-long safety study.
Latest developments
In March 2013 SARcode Bioscience announced its acquisition by Shire US Holdings Inc., with $160 million payable upfront and additional undisclosed milestone-based payments, expected to close in the second quarter of 2013 subject to US regulatory approval.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
An emerging clinical-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company whose lead candidate reached pivotal Phase 3 testing in dry eye disease before the company was acquired by Shire, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company.
Technology
Lifitegrast (previously SAR 1118) is a small-molecule integrin antagonist selected from over one thousand synthesized molecules for its ability to specifically and potently block the LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction. In vitro, the compound inhibited cell adhesion, cytokine production and cellular proliferation. It was engineered for good penetration into target periocular tissues with low systemic absorption, and its high water solubility permitted formulation as an unpreserved ophthalmic solution administered in single-use unit-dose vials.
Go-to-market
Patients with dry eye disease and other ocular inflammatory conditions such as uveitis and diabetic macular edema, treated by ophthalmologists; dry eye disease was estimated to affect approximately 25 million people in the US and 370 million worldwide as of 2013.
Geography
United States; headquartered in San Francisco, California as of 2011 and in Brisbane, California as of 2013, with clinical development and a planned FDA New Drug Application in the US.
History
Founded in 2006 and initially operating as SARcode Corporation from San Francisco, California, the company appointed Todd Creech as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Development in February 2011, under CEO Quinton Oswald. Operating as SARcode Bioscience, Inc. from Brisbane, California, it advanced its lead compound from Phase 2 (SAR 1118) to Phase 3 studies (lifitegrast). In March 2013 the company announced an agreement to be acquired by Shire US Holdings Inc. for $160 million upfront plus milestone payments, with the SARcode team continuing to support the clinical and manufacturing programs through NDA submission.
Compiled by commissioned research from 2 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsShire US Holdings Inc. agreed to acquire SARcode Bioscience, with an upfront payment of $160 million and additional undisclosed payments contingent on clinical, regulatory and/or commercial milestones. The transaction was expected to close in the second quarter of 2013, subject to US regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. The SARcode team was to remain in place to support clinical and manufacturing programs through NDA submission.
$160M source ↗
SARcode Corporation named Todd Creech as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Development, effective February 1, 2011. Creech had served both roles as a consultant to SARcode since November 2010, and previously was CFO of Sirion Therapeutics.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 2
primary sources listed
- Todd A. Creech Named Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Development for SARcode Corporationprnewswire.com · web
2 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Sarcode do?
- Venture-backed ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company developing LFA-1 antagonists for dry eye disease; acquired by Shire in 2013.
- Who are Sarcode's investors?
- Sarcode's investors include Rho Ventures, Sofinnova Ventures.