B&L to use Santen polymers for lenses
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
In a bid to develop next-generation intraocular lenses (IOLs), Bausch & Lomb has signed a licensing agreement for Santen Pharmaceutical’s foldable hydrophobic acrylic polymers. The deal sees B&L (Aliso Viejo, California) gain the right to use the CE-marked and FDA-approved polymers to develop and commercialise IOLs on a global basis, except for Japan, where Osaka-based Santen will retain the exclusive rights. As well as using the polymers to develop new IOLs, which are used to replace cataractous lenses, B&L said that the materials would be complementary to its existing Crystalens, Akreos and SoftPort products. Financial terms of the deal were not revealed.