Alcon has announced that it will acquire privately-held Optonol, Ltd., a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets novel miniature surgical implants used to lower intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma, according to an Alcon news release.
With this acquisition, Alcon will acquire Optonol's Ex-PRESS Mini Glaucoma Shunt and will add device offerings to its current portfolio of pharmaceutical offerings to lower IOP in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
"This transaction demonstrates Alcon's strong commitment to providing physicians with comprehensive treatment options for patients with glaucoma, the world's second leading cause of blindness," Robert Warner, Alcon's vice president of U.S. pharmaceutical products, said in the release. "This surgical procedure provides incremental surgeon and patient benefits over trabeculectomy, which is currently considered the standard of care in glaucoma surgical therapy."
The American Medical Association assigned the Ex-PRESSMini Glaucoma Shunt to CPT 0192T effective July 1, 2008 and it is currently reimbursed by Medicare and other payors.
The closing of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of required regulatory approvals and is expected to occur by the end of the first quarter of 2010, according to the release.
Read the release on Alcon's acquisition of Optonol.
With this acquisition, Alcon will acquire Optonol's Ex-PRESS Mini Glaucoma Shunt and will add device offerings to its current portfolio of pharmaceutical offerings to lower IOP in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
"This transaction demonstrates Alcon's strong commitment to providing physicians with comprehensive treatment options for patients with glaucoma, the world's second leading cause of blindness," Robert Warner, Alcon's vice president of U.S. pharmaceutical products, said in the release. "This surgical procedure provides incremental surgeon and patient benefits over trabeculectomy, which is currently considered the standard of care in glaucoma surgical therapy."
The American Medical Association assigned the Ex-PRESSMini Glaucoma Shunt to CPT 0192T effective July 1, 2008 and it is currently reimbursed by Medicare and other payors.
The closing of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of required regulatory approvals and is expected to occur by the end of the first quarter of 2010, according to the release.
Read the release on Alcon's acquisition of Optonol.