Carl Zeiss Meditec to Acquire Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (DORC)
In a move to expand its position in the vitreo-retinal surgery segment and strengthen its position in the ophthalmic medical device category globally, Carl Zeiss Meditec announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center, International (DORC) from the investment firm Eurazeo SE (Paris, France) for about €985 million ($1.07 billion). The deal is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2024.
Zeiss says the acquisition will enhance and complement Zeiss Medical Technology’s ophthalmic portfolio and range of digitally connected workflow solutions for addressing a wide variety of eye conditions, including retinal disorders, cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors.
The Netherlands-based DORC is the mker of the EVA NEXUS platform, which obtained 510(k) market clearance in 2022. The Eva Nexus is designed to improve performance, efficiency, and stability for retina surgeons. The device features Smart IOP for anterior and posterior chamber stability; DORC’s trocar cannula system with HI-FLOW infusion line; and EVA Inicio, the microinjection system developed for Eva Nexus, the first system approved for subretinal injection. DORC is also the maker of TissueBlue, the first and only FDA approved dye for staining the ILM (Brilliant Blue G Ophthalmic Solution) 0.025%; and the EVA Aveta trocar cannula system (marketed as EVA Trocar in the US).
Zeiss says the acquisition will contribute to its long-term strategy and success going forward.
“With the acquisition of Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center, we’ll bring together two highly innovative ophthalmic powerhouses to accelerate Zeiss' position in the vitreo-retinal surgery segment and extend our leadership in the ophthalmic medical devices market,” Dr. Markus Weber, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, said in a company news release.
“Meeting our customers’ growing surgical needs to improve patients’ lives is the cornerstone of this acquisition,” said Euan S. Thomson, PhD, Head of the Ophthalmology Strategic Business Unit and Head of the Digital Business Unit for Zeiss Medical Technology. “By joining forces with Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center, we will greatly enhance our Zeiss Retina Workflow and overall portfolios for both posterior and anterior surgery segments, helping to firmly establish our position as a leading solutions provider in the global retinal surgery market.”
“In the year when DORC celebrates 40 years of innovation in ophthalmic surgery, we could not be more excited to join a market leader and visionary like Zeiss Medical Technology,” said Pierre Billardon, CEO of Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center, International. “We’ve built an amazing business with innovative, market-leading products and look forward to seizing this opportunity for growth and advancing the future of ophthalmic surgery. I am personally proud and immensely grateful to all of the team at DORC for their commitment and expertise to help patients see again.”