Alcon Corporation to Acquire LumiThera, a Company Specializing in Light Therapy for Eye Diseases

Alcon Corporation to Acquire LumiThera, a Company Specializing in Light Therapy for Eye Diseases

In a significant development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), LumiThera's Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has shown promising results in improving visual acuity for early to intermediate dry AMD patients. This non-invasive, low-level light therapy, delivered in a comfortable clinic setting, has demonstrated consistent improvements in visual acuity with minimal adverse effects, as evidenced by clinical trials such as LIGHTSITE I, II, and III [1][2][3].

The LIGHTSITE III trial, a pivotal study conducted at ten U.S. sites, showed that patients treated with PBM gained one line of visual acuity at months 13 and 21, maintaining this improvement at month 24. About 88% of patients in the PBM group either maintained or gained vision compared to baseline at month 249 [2][3]. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized marketing of the PBM device for dry AMD treatment, marking a significant step forward in its adoption [4].

The acquisition of LumiThera by Alcon, a leading global eye care company, is set to further propel the PBM therapy into broader commercialization. With Alcon's global reach, PBM therapy is likely to become more accessible to a wider population of dry AMD patients worldwide. Alcon's resources could also potentially lead to more effective treatments or new applications for PBM therapy [2][3].

Sean Clark, Vice President and General Manager, Global Surgical Franchise, Alcon, expressed excitement about expanding Alcon's offerings into the clinic to help millions of people living with dry AMD. Clark Tedford, Ph.D., President and CEO of LumiThera, expressed confidence in Alcon's capabilities to broadly commercialize LumiThera's PBM device [5].

It is worth noting that PBM therapy targets mitochondrial dysfunction in the retina, a known factor in dry AMD. Early symptoms of dry AMD include distorted central vision, which can progress to complete loss, affecting daily activities like reading and driving [6]. LumiThera's PBM device is notable for improving vision in individuals with early to intermediate dry AMD, a disease with limited treatment options in its early stages [7].

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and a LumiThera shareholder vote. A larger, multi-center clinical study in Norway is currently recruiting 500 patients and is expected to run until the end of 2026, providing additional insights into the long-term efficacy and safety of PBM therapy for dry AMD [1].

In conclusion, the acquisition and continued development of PBM therapy represent a promising avenue for improving outcomes for patients with dry AMD, offering hope for a condition that currently lacks effective treatments to restore vision.

References: [1] LumiThera. (2022). LumiThera Announces Initiation of New PBM-0102 Clinical Study in Norway. Retrieved from https://lumithera.com/news/lumithera-announces-initiation-of-new-pbm-0102-clinical-study-in-norway/ [2] Alcon. (2023). Alcon to Acquire LumiThera, a Leading Developer of Light-Based Therapies for Ophthalmology. Retrieved from https://www.alcon.com/company/news/alcon-to-acquire-lumithera-a-leading-developer-of-light-based-therapies-for-ophthalmology/ [3] LumiThera. (2023). LumiThera Announces Positive Top-line Results from LIGHTSITE III Clinical Study. Retrieved from https://lumithera.com/news/lumithera-announces-positive-top-line-results-from-lightsite-iii-clinical-study/ [4] U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2024). FDA Grants De Novo Authorization for LumiThera's PBM Device for Dry AMD Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-grants-de-novo-authorization-lumitheras-pbm-device-dry-amd-treatment [5] LumiThera. (2025). Alcon and LumiThera Anticipate Completion of Acquisition in Third Quarter of 2025. Retrieved from https://lumithera.com/news/alcon-and-lumithera-anticipate-completion-of-acquisition-in-third-quarter-of-2025/ [6] American Macular Degeneration Foundation. (2022). Symptoms of Dry Macular Degeneration. Retrieved from https://www.macular.org/dry-macular-degeneration-symptoms [7] LumiThera. (2023). LumiThera's PBM Device Improves Vision in Individuals with Early to Intermediate Dry AMD. Retrieved from https://lumithera.com/news/lumitheras-pbm-device-improves-vision-in-individuals-with-early-to-intermediate-dry-amd/

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