Allergan agrees to acquire earFold device for correcting prominent ears

Allergan announced it has entered into agreement to acquire Northwood Medical Innovation Ltd, the developer of earFold, a minimally-invasive treatment option for correcting prominent ears, with or without asymmetry, in patients aged 7 years and older.

The implantable medical device received the CE mark earlier this year and is available to accredited plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists and maxillo-facial surgeons primarily in the United Kingdom, according to a press release. Allergan will continue to commercialize the product in Europe and will explore regulatory pathways to introducing the product in other countries including the United States, the release reported.

The “earFold technology adds another innovative product to our medical aesthetics portfolio, especially for the plastic surgeons we serve today, and has the potential to expand the number of patients interested in corrective surgery as it provides an alternative treatment that may appeal to those who have been reluctant to undergo traditional surgical procedures,” Paul Navarri, president and EVP of International Brands at Allergan, said in the release. “Many of Allergan’s plastic surgery customers currently perform otoplasty procedures, emphasizing our commitment to serving the unmet needs and practice of plastic surgery.”

The implantable device is indicated for use in patients aged 7 years and older who have ear prominence, which is defined as helical-mastoid distance of ≥ 20 mm and/or significant asymmetry. It is made of a short strip of nitinol metal alloy, which is specifically designed to retain a preset shape, according to a press release. The metal strip is approximately the same thickness as a human hair plated with 24-carat gold to reduce visibility under the skin to reshape.

The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes and can be completed in an outpatient setting, according to the release.

The earFold device has been studied in more than 400 patients, with patients obtaining 34% reduction in helical-mastoid distance, which is similar to results expected from standard otoplasty procedures, the release reported.

Allergan plans to establish a standardized training program for surgeons using the earFold treatment system upon completion of the acquisition, according to the release.

Reference: www.allergan.com