Swiss eye-care company Alcon has closed its deal to acquire Israeli company Belkin Vision for an initial consideration of $81m, including an additional cash payment of $65m, to bolster the company’s glaucoma portfolio.
The acquisition, which was first announced in May 2024, brings Belkin’s Vision’s Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT) technology into the hands of Alcon, giving the company a frontline therapy in the glaucoma space while the Swiss company focuses on its range of implantable devices such as the Hydrus Microstent.
Alcon said the acquisition comes as the global trend in glaucoma treatment shifts towards the selective use of DSLT. The company is gearing up for plans to implement the technology globally. The announcement follows after Belkin Vision was able to secure US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its glaucoma laser, the Eagle device in December 2023.
Sean Clark, president at Alcon, said: “As a therapy with significant advantages for the patient and practice, we believe our newly acquired DSLT technology is uniquely positioned to accelerate the evolution toward first-line use of SLT in the glaucoma treatment paradigm.”
US-based non-profit, the Glaucoma Research Foundation, estimates that approximately 80 million people are living worldwide with some form of glaucoma, with approximately half of whom may not be aware they have the condition. Research conducted by GlobalData found that the market for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery devices in the US is projected to be worth approximately $345m by 2030.
Nathan Radcliffe, cataract and glaucoma surgeon for New York Ophthalmology, said: “Despite ample evidence for SLT as primary therapy in glaucoma treatment, practical challenges limit availability to many patients who could benefit from it.
“DSLT will have a profound impact on laser-first, helping to overcome these barriers and meaningfully improve access to laser therapy—shifting doctor and patient perceptions around efficiency and comfort.”
The announcement comes shortly after Alcon was ordered to pay $34m to ophthalmology rival Sight Sciences as part of a patent infringement case in which the Swiss company was accused of having infringed on two of Sight Sciences designs for devices used to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye.
