Innovation finds its way into all areas of medtech, and ophthalmic treatments represent another burgeoning space. It may not be a new wave, but medtech companies continue to improve upon technologies for the human eye. Implants, lenses and more comprise the space’s latest innovations, with a number of companies finding new ways to fix old […]
Implants
Phase 3 trial data support Glaukos iDose eye drop alternative
Glaukos (NYSE:GKOS) today announced positive outcomes from two Phase 3 pivotal trials for its iDose TR system. iDose TR contains a novel formulation of travoprost, a prostaglandin analog used to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). Glaukos designed it to continuously release therapeutic levels of medication for at least one year. Once all travoprost is released, iDose […]
Second Sight Medical merges with Nano Precision Medical, rebrands as Vivani Medical
Second Sight Medical (Nasdaq:EYES) announced today that it completed its merger with Nano Precision Medical and rebranded. In February, the two companies entered into a definitive agreement under which Nano Precision Medical (NPM) would merge with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Second Sight in an all-stock transaction, with NPM as the surviving company under Second Sight’s […]
AbbVie enters partnership with iStar with option to acquire
AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) announced today that it entered into a strategic alliance with iStar Medical over the MINIject device. The strategic transaction centers around helping to further develop and commercialize iStar’s MINIject minimally invasive glaucoma surgical (MIGS) device. It will also provide AbbVie with a chance to expand its eye care business through an option to […]
Lyra Therapeutics appoints new chief medical officer
Lyra Therapeutics (Nasdaq:LYRA) announced today that it appointed Dr. Richard Nieman as its new chief medical officer (CMO). Nieman’s appointment as CMO of Lyra, which develops the XTreo — a platform for enabling precise, sustained and local delivery of medications to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) passages and other diseased tissues — will be […]
Medtronic completes Intersect ENT acquisition
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced that it completed its previously announced $1.1 billion acquisition of Intersect ENT (Nasdaq:XENT). Fridley, Minnesota-based Medtronic announced in August 2021 that it would acquire all outstanding shares of the Menlo Park, Calif.-based sinus implant maker for $28.25 per share in an all-cash transaction. As a result of the transaction, Medtronic acquires Intersect ENT’s Propel and Sinuva drug-eluting […]
ProMed Pharma begins preclinical testing of resorbable contraceptive implant
After receiving funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ProMed Pharma has begun preclinical evaluation of a novel fully resorbable contraceptive implant. The Plymouth, Minnesota–based company imagines that the contraceptive implants could ultimately find use in low- and middle-income (LMIC) settings. The novel implant potentially could offer women 18 months of contraception through the […]
Ariste Medical co-founder sees great potential for drug-coated implants and orthopedics
It’s been more than a decade since Lisa Jennings launched not one but two companies in the Great Recession. In 2020, she sold CirQuest Labs to MLM Medical Labs, where Jennings serves as chief scientific officer and managing director of U.S. operations. More recently, her pre-commercial medtech development startup, Ariste Medical, won FDA 510(k) approval for […]
Senseonics announces first Eversense E3 CGM implant in U.S.
Senseonics (NYSE:SENS) announced today that the first patient was implanted with its next-generation Eversense E3 continuous glucose monitor. Germantown, Maryland-based Senseonics, in partnership with Ascensia Diabetes Care, launched the Eversense E3 long-term implantable CGM system in the U.S. earlier this week. The system received FDA approval in February for use lasting up to six months […]
FDA clears antibiotic-embedded hernia mesh for fighting implant infections
Ariste Medical recently won FDA 510(k) clearance for its drug-embedded, polypropylene hernia mesh to fight microbial colonization. The Salt Lake City-based drug-device developer said the patents and proprietary formulations behind the technology could prevent infection, inflammation or clotting associated with implants. Ariste’s synthetic mesh carries two antibiotics — minocycline and rifampin — to prevent contamination […]
