Perfuse

Perfuse Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering transformational research into the treatment of ischemia-induced ocular diseases. Headquartered in South San Francisco, California, with R&D facilities in Durham, North Carolina, the company is advancing its lead asset PER-001 — a small molecule endothelin receptor antagonist delivered via a sustained-release intravitreal implant — for the treatment of Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy. These conditions collectively affect over 200 million people worldwide and represent some of the largest causes of irreversible blindness. Perfuse was internally incubated at OrbiMed and led by founder and CEO Sevgi Gurkan, MD. In May 2026, Bayer announced an agreement to acquire Perfuse Therapeutics for a total potential value of up to USD 2.45 billion, comprising a $300 million upfront payment plus development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.