Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced that an affiliate has acquired Elios Vision, Inc. along with the company’s excimer laser-based, minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS): the ELIOS Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy procedure.
Before we get into these players, what can you tell us about the acquisition?
Aside from who served as exclusive financial and legal advisors for Elios, virtually no details (including monetary) were included with this announcement.
Alas. How about a refresher on Elios?
Launched in 2019, the Los Angeles, California-based Elios Vision is a privately-held company developing breakthrough technology as a solution for preserving sight in glaucoma patients through its ELIOS technology.
Its issue to address: The company reported that, while up to 20% of cataract patients in need of surgery also have glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT), glaucoma treatment has not yet become a routine consideration for this patient base.
- Its mission: Addressing this unmet need among patients by developing a new standard of care that combines cataract and glaucoma treatment—targeting both diseases in one.
Now to its MIGS technology.
The ELIOS procedure is combined with phacoemulsification to operate as a microinvasive, implant-free technology that uses excimer laser light energy.
What this laser does: Creates 10 microscope openings (200 µm) within the trabecular meshwork (TM) to reestablish the flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm’s canal.
- Watch this video for a visual of how the procedure works.
So is this a glaucoma or cataract treatment?
Technically a glaucoma treatment that’s performed during cataract surgery—think: two birds, one stone scenario.
The target demographic for this procedure: Patients with concomitant glaucoma and cataract, per Elios.
Specifically, the company has noted clinical evidence supporting this procedure as one that:
- Consolidates two procedures into one (as we mentioned earlier)
- Offers flexibility for surgeons as a combined or standalone procedure
- Can be integrated into standard operating room (OR) routines
- May alleviate daily eye drop burden
- Could provide long-lasting IOP reduction
- Does not involve implant use in the eye
What else makes it unique?
When up against other forms of MIGS, ELIOS’s use of an excimer laser can lower the complexity of both intra- and post-op surgery—due to its avoidance of thermal or mechanical trauma, thereby potentially shortening healing time.
Speaking on the procedure, Professor Ike K. Ahmed, MD, of the University of Toronto and Moran Eye Center, noted that the ELIOS provides “a tissue-friendly, precision non-thermal laser-based and highly adoptable procedure for the treatment of glaucoma.”
He added: “The synergy between cataract surgery and MIGS can help ophthalmologists provide streamlined care and improve patient quality of life.”
Talk more about this clinical data.
Elios reported clinical findings in 2022 from an 8-year follow-up of a cohort study on ELIOS in patients with glaucoma or OHT and cataract.
The 8-year data highlights:
- A sustained intraocular (IOP) reduction (19.3 mmHg at baseline to 15.4 mmHg; p = 0.0040)
- Significant reduction in medication needs
- Only 3.7% of patients required secondary surgical glaucoma intervention
- No serious intra- or postoperative events
Additionally: A pivotal trial (NCT04899063) evaluating ELIOS in combo with cataract surgery for IOP reduction among primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients is currently ongoing.
Nice! And it’s not FDA-approved yet, right?
Correct; Elios is actively working toward an FDA submission for the ELIOS technology.
However, outside of the United States, the procedure has already been granted a CE mark and is currently marketed and sold within the European Union (EU).
How exciting! So how does this purchase benefit B+L?
The acquisition of ELIOS is a major boost for its glaucoma portfolio, as well as a new addition to its already established surgical offerings in cataract, refractive, and retina).
And as Luc Bonnefoy, president of B+L’s Surgical division, stated, this move “further demonstrates our commitment to investing in smart, innovative technologies that enable eye care professionals to better address the evolving needs of their patients.”
And Elios?
The company’s former chairman and CEO, Elliot Friedman, noted that B+L’s extensive cataract surgery presence “will introduce ELIOS to a broader range of (ECPs) and help change the treatment paradigm” for glaucoma patients across the globe.
“The goal is to make combining cataract and glaucoma treatment the new standard of care, and that’s even more attainable given Bausch + Lomb’s presence in nearly 100 countries,” he added.