Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced it has purchased the ophthalmic medical diagnostic company Trukera Medical via an affiliate.
First up, a rundown on Trukera.
Originally founded in 2009 under the name TearLab Corporation, the once-public (now-privately-owned) U.S.-based company was rebranded in 2020 as Trukera Medical following its acquisition by investment firm Accelmed Partners II.
The initial focus: Dry eye disease (DED) diagnostics via point-of-care (POC) technologies.
- Its most notable product: The TearLab Osmolarity System, a first-generation device designed for providing objective POC osmolarity testing
Why focus on osmolarity?
Per the company, measuring tear osmolarity at the time of cataract surgery planning can effectively identify patients with a higher likelihood of high unexpected refractive error—not to mention more accurately diagnose DED.
In fact: Hyperosmolarity—known to be a leading indicator of asymptomatic DED and ocular surface disease (OSD)—can, in turn, adversely impact ophthalmic surgery (corneal, cataract, and refractive, specifically) patient outcomes if not treated prior to the procedure.
Gotcha. And the company’s focus since rebranding?
It’s shifted away from the TearLab system to its second-generation device: the ScoutPro Osmolarity System (ScoutPro).
Case in point: In September 2023, Turkera announced it would longer manufacture the TearLab system—dubbed by the company as a “first-generation osmometer.”
Despite this discontinuation, Trukera also noted that it would continue to service and support TearLab’s existing customers until further notice.
Gotcha. Now let’s talk about this second-generation device.
ScoutPro—dubbed the “second-generation osmometer”—was introduced in October 2022 as the company’s first new product since rebranding.
What it is: A handheld and portable osmolarity system that provides specimen collection and analysis in one end-to-end testing process.
Go on …
As the first and only portable osmometer in the United States, the automated device—equipped with a pen and charging base—is designed to quantitatively measure the osmolarity of human tears in order to help diagnose DED.
- Plus: It’s also intended to be used in conjunction with a single-use osmolarity test card (including those compatible with the original TearLab system)
- This provides a “quick and simple method for determining tear osmolarity using nanoliter (nL) volumes of tear fluid collected directly from the eyelid margin”
- See its user manual and quick reference guide
- This provides a “quick and simple method for determining tear osmolarity using nanoliter (nL) volumes of tear fluid collected directly from the eyelid margin”
What kind of technology does it include?
First: The device comes with three rechargeable batteries allowing up to 8 hours of life.
Next: Its “specimen collection and analysis” is possible thanks to Trukera’s VeriLyte technology, which provides in-office mobility and advanced, real-time metrology of microfluidic impedance spectrum.
- The result: Displayed via a small screen on the device, clinicians are provided with a quantitative numerical value in just a few seconds following tear collection.
So the big question: Why purchase Trukera?
With the company’s ScoutPro diagnostic capabilities, this “tuck-in acquisition,” as B+L referred to it, will expand its surgical offerings as well as advance its—already top-tier—position within the dry eye space.
“As a global leader in dry eye disease management, as well as cataract and refractive medical devices and implants,” stated B+L Surgical President Luc Bonnefoy, “we’re uniquely positioned to optimize pre-surgical preparation to help ensure positive post-surgical outcomes.” Considered “a valuable preoperative diagnostic tool,” the ScoutPro will have an even greater impact for U.S. surgeons, Bonnefoy added.
Speaking of dry eye … B+L seems to be on a roll with its products.
Indeed it has been! With the Trukera (and ScoutPro) acquisition, it’s only added to its already strong product offerings. A few of those include:
- Blink product line
- MIEBO (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution)
- XIIDRA (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%
Plus: The company also reported new data from a State of the Dry Eye national survey and debuted a dry eye awareness digital tool for clinicians and patients.
And on the subject of this acquisition … any financial details?
At the moment? No. The companies did not disclose any monetary amounts associated with this purchase.