24 February 2016
Alcon has announced that it has acquired Transcend Medical, a US-based company that produces minimally-invasive surgical devices to treat glaucoma.
Transcend Medical recently developed a micro-stent which is surgically implanted just below the surface of the eye for the treatment of less-severe glaucoma.
The device is designed to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) by enhancing the natural drainage pathways of the eye with minimal disruption to surrounding tissue.
In a randomised study of over 500 people with mild-to-moderate glaucoma undergoing cataract surgery, patients who received the micro-stent experienced a 20% reduction in IOP compared to those who did not.
Alcon chief executive, Mike Ball, said he hoped the company’s acquisition of Transcend Medical would improve non-invasive treatment of glaucoma.
Mr Ball commented: “We expect the MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) technology to be a great addition to our device pipeline and to establish Alcon’s presence in this new surgical category to treat glaucoma.
He added: “If approved, it will provide a less invasive means of lowering IOP than traditional invasive glaucoma surgery, with the goal of lowering the dependency of topical ocular medication.”
Alcon is a division of the multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Image credit: Transcend Medical
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