Novartis announced that it has completed the acquisition of Amblyotech, a U.S.-based software startup and will, in collaboration with Ubisoft and McGill University, pursue the development of the acquired digital technology for treating amblyopia.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Designed to enhance compliance, Amblyotech uses active gaming and passive video technology with 3-D glasses, training the eyes to work together to view an image in full, Novartis states in a press release. Its software employs a unique visual presentation, called dichoptic display, where each eye is presented with different images using a proprietary algorithm. In early clinical studies, Amblyotech’s software demonstrated improvements in vision in both children and adults with faster onset compared to standard-of-care treatments.
“By offering a noninvasive solution that has the potential to be significantly faster than current standards of care such as patching for children and adults impacted by lazy eye, Amblyotech’s software is a great example of how we can reimagine medicine using digital technology,” said Nikos Tripodis, global business franchise head, ophthalmology. “We look forward to using our deep clinical development expertise in ophthalmology to accelerate this platform toward regulatory approval, and our global commercial footprint to maximize access for patients who need it.”
With the transaction closing, Novartis plans to work in partnership with video game developer Ubisoft to develop the Amblyotech software as a medical device, create a series of engaging games for the device, and conduct a proof of concept study, planned for later in 2020.
