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Cooper forms ophthalmic surgical unit, buys products
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LAKE FOREST, Calif. — The Cooper Companies has acquired all rights to AlphaCor, an artificial cornea, and AlphaSphere, a soft orbital implant, from Argus Biomedical, according to a company news release. In addition, Cooper has formed a new ophthalmic surgical business unit to market the products. Called CooperVision Surgical, the unit will be a subsidiary of Cooper’s contact lens business.
According to the company, the AlphaCor is a synthetic one-piece device designed to replace a diseased or damaged cornea or failed human corneal graft. AlphaSphere is currently in development by Argus.
“Starting with products like AlphaCor, we plan to acquire and develop other proprietary products for ophthalmic surgery that offer unique advantages over currently available therapies,” A. Thomas Bender, Cooper’s chairman and chief executive officer, said in the press release. “We intend to leverage our strong brand image as we build a global franchise in this market.”
Argus estimated that about 100,000 corneal transplants are performed worldwide yearly and that about 20,000 of these would be candidates for AlphaCor.
AlphaCor has received regulatory clearance in the United States, Australia, Europe and Canada, according to the press release. More than 120 AlphaCor devices have been implanted worldwide, the company noted.