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AMO expands phakic lens agreement with Ophtec
Company also completes acquisition of Pfizer’s ophthalmic surgical business.
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Advanced Medical Optics Inc. and Ophtec USA Inc. are expanding the strategic relationship between the two companies to include the design and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of a new foldable phakic IOL.
According to a joint press release, AMO and Ophtec USA, a privately held medical device subsidiary of Netherlands-based Ophtec BV, will work together to complete the design of the Veriflex phakic IOL, which is a foldable version of the Artisan/Verisyse phakic IOL (Ophtec/AMO).
The Artisan/Verisyse IOL is currently awaiting FDA approval in the United States. Ophtec is also currently conducting clinical trials of a foldable silicone phakic IOL in Europe.
Under the agreement, both companies will continue to improve the design of the foldable lens and will develop a compatible insertion system. The companies will also share responsibility for submitting the FDA premarket approval application and the implementation of regulatory clinical trials in the United States. However, once the new lens is granted U.S. marketing approval, AMO will have exclusive rights for distribution of the lens in the United States and Japan, similar to the current agreement regarding distribution of the Artisan/Verisyse IOL. AMO also plans to market the new lens in Europe and other parts of the world, the companies said.
“Through this agreement, we can combine [AMO’s] broad expertise in silicone optics, multifocal surfaces and IOL insertion systems with Ophtec’s extensive experience with phakic lens technologies. We believe this collaboration will result in new phakic IOL innovations that will expand our growing portfolio of refractive surgical products,” James V. Mazzo, AMO president and chief executive officer, said in the press release.
Surgical acquisition complete
AMO also announced in June that it had completed its acquisition of Pfizer’s ophthalmic surgical product business.
“AMO has long respected the superior quality and technological advancements of the Pfizer ophthalmic surgical business, which served surgeons around the world for many years under the Pharmacia name. We are pleased and proud to welcome the Pharmacia employees and customers into our organization and are confident that our combined organization will be an important contributor to the global ophthalmic community,” Mr. Mazzo said in a press release.
Under the $450 million cash transaction, AMO now takes control of the Healon line of viscoelastic products, the CeeOn and Tecnis IOLs and the Baerveldt glaucoma shunt. AMO also acquired related manufacturing and research and development facilities in Groningen, Netherlands; Uppsala, Sweden; and Bangalore, India.
These assets generated sales of approximately $150 million during 2003, the company said.
According to AMO, in addition to expanding its cataract and lens technology product lines, the acquisition of the Baerveldt glaucoma shunt allows the company to gain a better understanding of the needs of glaucoma specialists and their patients and provides an entrance into the glaucoma medical device market.
For Your Information:
- Advanced Medical Optics can be reached at 1700 E. St. Andrews Place, Santa Ana, CA 92799; 714-247-8200; fax: 714-247-8682; Web site: www.amo-inc.com.
- Ophtec USA can be reached at 6421 Congress Ave., Suite 112, Boca Raton, FL 33487; 561-989-8767; fax: 561-989-9744; Web site: www.ophtec.com.