GENEVA — Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC) has completed its previously announced acquisition of Ivantis, developer of the Hydrus Microstent.
“We believe this transaction will further strengthen our global surgical portfolio and help provide a platform for more growth in the glaucoma space,” said David Endicott, CEO of Alcon. “As we welcome Ivantis associates into Alcon, we look forward to introducing Hydrus Microstent on a broader, global scale in the near future to help even more patients see brilliantly.”
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Hydrus Microstent is a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery device designed to lower eye pressure for open-angle glaucoma patients in connection with cataract surgery.
The acquisition “allows Alcon to begin its future growth plans to bring Hydrus Microstent to more international markets and prioritize its ongoing evidence-based research,” according to a press release.
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Longstanding clinical safety and efficacy data, which will be highlighted at 2022 medical meetings, is a cornerstone of Hydrus Microstent and its market adoption to date. Its five-year HORIZON data demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant clinical benefits over the full five years, including sustained reduction in medication use and the need for invasive secondary glaucoma surgery. The safety profile was also sustained through the five-year follow-up.1
“This is an important time for Hydrus Microstent as we continue to learn more about its long-term efficacy and outcomes for glaucoma patients worldwide. The visual field data recently showcased at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting showed Hydrus Microstent as the first MIGS device to demonstrate a reduced rate of visual field loss compared to cataract surgery alone. This is an important milestone for surgeons and their patients,” said Dr. Ike Ahmed, Research Director at Kensington Eye Institute, Director of the Glaucoma and Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery (GAASS) Fellowship Program at the University of Toronto, and Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Utah’s John A. Moran Eye Center. “I am confident that Alcon’s acquisition of Ivantis will help drive even more research and adoption of Hydrus Microstent.”
Continuing this rigorous ongoing research, Alcon plans to pursue stand-alone surgery indications for Hydrus Microstent in the U.S. with clinical trials underway and additional information about potential expansion plans will be provided in the future.
In the U.S., Hydrus Microstent, which is part of a large and growing market, is currently indicated for the reduction of intraocular pressure in adult patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma in conjunction with cataract surgery. In the U.K., Canada, Australia, Singapore and Germany, the device is indicated for primary open-angle glaucoma in conjunction with cataract surgery and as a stand-alone procedure.
