Alcon Completes Acquisition of Ivantis, Bringing Hydrus Microstent into Its Global Surgical Portfolio
Alcon announced the closing of its previously announced acquisition of Ivantis, developer of the Hydrus Microstent, a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) device designed to lower eye pressure for open-angle glaucoma patients in connection with cataract surgery.
In November, Alcon agreed to acquire Ivantis for $475 million upfront, plus additional payments contingent upon regulatory and commercial milestones.
With this acquisition, the immediate integration of Ivantis associates helps ensure continuity of the business and relationships with existing customers, according to Alcon. It also allows Alcon to begin its future growth plans to bring Hydrus Microstent to more international markets and prioritize its ongoing evidence-based research.
“We believe this transaction will further strengthen our global surgical portfolio and help provide a platform for more growth in the glaucoma space,” David Endicott, CEO of Alcon, said in a company news release. “As we welcome Ivantis associates into Alcon, we look forward to introducing Hydrus Microstent on a broader, global scale in the near future to help even more patients see brilliantly.”
Five-year HORIZON data of the Hydrus demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant clinical benefits over the full 5 years, including sustained reduction in medication use and the need for invasive secondary glaucoma surgery. The safety profile was also sustained through the five-year follow-up.1
“This is an important time for Hydrus Microstent as we continue to learn more about its long-term efficacy and outcomes for glaucoma patients worldwide. The visual field data recently showcased at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting showed Hydrus Microstent as the first MIGS device to demonstrate a reduced rate of visual field loss compared to cataract surgery alone. This is an important milestone for surgeons and their patients,” said Ike Ahmed, MD, Research Director at Kensington Eye Institute, Director of the Glaucoma and Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery (GAASS) Fellowship Program at the University of Toronto, and Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Utah’s John A. Moran Eye Center. “I am confident that Alcon’s acquisition of Ivantis will help drive even more research and adoption of Hydrus Microstent.”
Alcon plans to pursue stand-alone surgery indications for Hydrus Microstent in the US with clinical trials underway and additional information about potential expansion plans will be provided in the future.
In the US, Hydrus Microstent, which is part of a large and growing market, is currently indicated for the reduction of IOP in adult patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma in conjunction with cataract surgery. In the U.K., Canada, Australia, Singapore and Germany, the device is indicated for primary open-angle glaucoma in conjunction with cataract surgery and as a stand-alone procedure.
To view EyewireTV's coverage of the acquistion, including comments from Alcon CEO David Endicott, click on the video below.