Novartis has elected to exercise an option granted to it in 2016 to in-license rights (excluding Europe) to ECF843 from Lubris BioPharma for ophthalmic indications, specifically for the treatment of dry eye. ECF843 is recombinant human lubricin protein, a new therapeutic approach and the potential to be a first-in-class treatment for dry eye. Novartis has been focusing on expanding its ophthalmology pipeline which included the recent acquisition of Encore Vision.