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IOPtima receives European patent for laser-based glaucoma treatment system
RAMAT GAN, Israel — IOPtima has received European Patent Office approval for its OT-134 laser-based therapy for treating glaucoma, the company announced in a press release.
The CO2-based laser system, known as the IOPtiMate, enables noninvasive filtration to reduce IOP, the release said.
"Receiving the EPO approval is another important milestone for IOPtima which further validates and strengthens our position toward launching our product in Europe," Dr. Joshua Degani, CEO of IOPtima, said in the release. "We believe that we can provide an effective and viable solution to millions of people suffering from chronic eye diseases that require constant treatment."
The company expects to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the IOPtiMate, which received European CE approval in August. U.S. clinical trials are scheduled to begin in the near future, the release said.
The patent covers IOPtima's proprietary concept of glaucoma treatment and its laser technology, the release said. The IOPtiMate is designed to ablate the scleral membrane to an optimal thickness that allows percolation of intraocular fluid.