Alcon Completes Acquisition of Belkin Vision
Alcon announced the closing of its acquisition of Belkin Vision, which was initially reported in May 2024.
The acquisition involved a total upfront consideration of $81 million, including a cash payment of approximately $65 million. The deal also has the potential for up to $385 million in payments, contingent upon sales-based milestones, according to Alcon.
The acquisition includes Belkin Vision’s direct selective laser trabeculoplasty (DSLT) technology, expanding Alcon’s glaucoma portfolio with a first-line therapy. For glaucoma, Alcon also offers implantables such as Hydrus Microstent, and pharmaceutical drops.
Belkin Vision's DSLT technology is approved in the European Union and the United Kingdom, where it is indicated to perform SLT. The device received 510(k) clearance from the FDA but is not yet available in the United States. With this acquisition, Alcon plans to continue to supply DSLT in the European Union and United Kingdom.
The company is aiming to make the device available to physicians in the US by the end of 2024. Alcon is also integrating DSLT into its Alcon Vision Suite ecosystem. Additional information about plans and timing for launches in new markets will be provided in the future, advised Alcon.
Alcon noted that the Belkin Vision Eagle DSLT device delivers laser energy to the trabecular meshwork like traditional SLT; however, DSLT includes Belkin’s eye-tracking technology to ensure an accurate, automated treatment delivery through the limbus, thereby eliminating the need for a gonio lens or manual aiming.
“As a therapy with significant advantages for the patient and practice, we believe our newly acquired DSLT technology is uniquely positioned to accelerate the evolution toward first-line use of SLT in the glaucoma treatment paradigm,” Sean Clark, President, Global Surgical Franchise, Alcon, said in a company news release. “We look forward to broadening access to this exciting technology in the future as we continue to address solutions for unmet needs in glaucoma.”
The LiGHT trial demonstrated that selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a clinically relevant and cost-effective primary treatment for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) that reduces the need for IOP lowering medications and glaucoma surgeries, according to Alcon. The 6-years results from LiGHT were published by Gus Gazzard, MD, et al, in Ophthalmology(2023;130:139-151).
Additionally, the pivotal GLAUrious study showed that DSLT effectively lowers IOP for OAG and OHT patients with a proven safety profile. The GLAUrious findings were presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s 2023 ARVO annual meeting held April 23-27, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The abstract of the presentation was published by Michael Belkin in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2023;64:5393).