Alcon, Advanced Medical Optics agree to cross-licensing arrangement

Huenenberg, Switzerland and Santa Ana, CA-Alcon Laboratories and Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) have agreed to a patent cross-licensing arrangement relating to lubricious coatings for IOL insertion devices and one-piece IOL haptic designs, the companies said in prepared statements.

AMO said it will pay Alcon $10 million for worldwide licenses to share Alcon's patents relating to single-piece IOLs with essentially the same design as AMO's one-piece lens (Tecnis, Model ZCB00).

Meanwhile, Alcon said it will pay AMO $31 million for non-exclusive, worldwide licenses under two families of patents owned by AMO for Alcon's insertion devices (Monarch and AcrySert IOL). The lump-sum payment also includes any future coating systems of a similar type that Alcon may develop, according to the company.

The IOL has been designated as a New Technology Intraocular Lens (NTIOL) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which further recognized the lens as a member of the Reduced Spherical Aberration NTIOL subset and approved it for reimbursement status that provides for additional Medicare reimbursement of $50 per lens for ambulatory surgical centers. AMO launched the IOL in Europe in September 2007. The license deal extends to future IOL models using the same design platform.

All other terms of the agreement are confidential, and both companies told Ophthalmology Times they were unable to discuss the settlement beyond their prepared statements.

"Our intellectual property has been and continues to be an important asset to AMO," said Steve Chesterman, manager, corporate communications for AMO. However, he clarified, "neither party pursued litigation."