With a round of conference presentations and a new marketing program launched this week, Sight Sciences Inc. kicked off a focused effort to increase awareness of its Omni surgical system’s FDA clearance for glaucoma procedures performed independently of cataract surgery. The coordinated push aims to further boost revenues, which saw an estimated 65% increase compared to 2020 and 12% increase quarter-on-quarter, based on preliminary fourth quarter and fiscal year 2021 results.

Glaukos Corp. received a green light from the FDA for its Iprime device for the delivery of viscoelastic fluid during ophthalmic surgery, which could help the company to recover some of the revenue lost by cuts to reimbursement for its minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) product, Istent. A launch date has not been announced.

Israeli startup Ophthalmic Sciences Ltd. is targeting 2023 for regulatory clearance of its artificial intelligence (AI)-based contactless intraocular pressure (IOP) measuring device, IO Perfect. The technology, which combines AI visual analysis in a virtual reality headset, enables remote monitoring of glaucoma. The device is designed to be used at home, in eye clinics, emergency room departments, pharmacies and primary physician settings.

LONDON – The first commercial implantations of Istar Medical SA’s minimally invasive Miniject supraciliary glaucoma drainage device have taken place in Germany, following European CE approval for the product.

Alcon AG plans to acquire Ivantis Inc. for $475 million at closing, regaining a significant position in the lucrative minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) space through the addition of the Hydrus microstent device to its ophthalmology portfolio. In addition to the up-front payment, the deal includes additional unspecified contingent payments dependent on achievement of certain milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

Glaukos Corp., of San Clemente, Calif., has taken another step forward in obtaining global market access for its Istent device for glaucoma with a positive coverage recommendation in Canada. Health Quality Ontario (HQO) has recommended that taxpayer dollars be used to cover the device in conjunction with cataract surgery, although the endorsement is limited to patients with mild to moderate glaucoma that is not well controlled with pressure-lowering medications.

TORONTO – Zilia Inc. has raised C$4 million (US$3.16 million) in seed financing to push new ocular diagnostic technology to regulatory finish lines in the U.S., Canada and eventually Europe. Zilia co-founder and CEO Patrick Sauvageau said the Zilia Ocular is alone in measuring oxygen saturation in the eye, an important biomarker for eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

After three years of litigation and nearly a decade of skirmishes, Ivantis Inc. settled with Glaukos Corp. for $60 million to be paid in two installments, with the first $30 million due by Dec. 31, 2021, and the second $30 million by Dec. 31, 2022. In addition, Irvine, Calif.-based Ivantis will pay Glaukos a 10% royalty through April 26, 2025, on sales of Ivantis’ Hydrus Microstent in the U.S. or international sales supplied out of the U.S. With just two weeks to go until their scheduled court date of Sept. 28, the companies finally saw eye-to-eye, reaching a cross-licensing agreement and hammering out a covenant to refrain from future litigation regarding the technologies involved in the Hydrus or Glaukos’s Istent, both used to treat glaucoma.

Visus Therapeutics Inc. has expanded its ophthalmic drug portfolio, in-licensing investigational therapies for glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration from Cella Therapeutics LLC, which will be developed by Finland’s Delsitech Ltd. using its extended-release depot technology.