News of Note—Aeterna review, Allegro eye test and Ocugen orphan tag

Troubled Aeterna Zentaris, in the midst of a legal battle with its former CEO and major problems with its leading candidate, has announced a strategic review to "consider and evaluate various strategic and financing," as well as "considering and recommending changes to the company’s management and governance." 

Allegro Ophthalmics says the second stage of the phase 2b test of its leading eye drug Luminate hit its primary endpoint when used as a sequential therapy in patients with diabetic macular edema. Ocugen says the FDA has been handed an orphan drug designation for its med OCU300 (brimonidine tartrate) in patients with ocular graft versus host disease. It works as a repurposed drug, which the biotech says can help up to 90% of patients "without significant side effects."