Bausch & Lomb, Santen enter into agreement for IOL development

Aliso Viejo, CA, and Osaka, Japan

-Bausch & Lomb and Santen Pharmaceutical Co. have entered into a licensing agreement for the development of certain IOL materials, according to statements issued by the companies. Financial terms will not be disclosed.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bausch & Lomb has obtained the rights to Santen’s hydrophobic acrylic polymers, from which Bausch & Lomb may commercialize new IOLs for sale worldwide. Santen reserves the right for the use of those materials in the Japanese market, however.

“Bausch & Lomb is enthusiastic about the potential that these polymers hold for developing next-generation IOLs to benefit patients and surgeons alike,” said John Sheets Jr., PhD, corporate vice president and chief technology officer, Bausch & Lomb. “We are committed to aggressively creating innovative, in-demand products through both industry partnerships and our considerable internal capabilities. Combining these materials with our current product and technology portfolio will provide Bausch & Lomb with an unsurpassed breadth of product offerings.”

Santen said that they are “pleased this agreement will allow doctors and patients outside Japan to have access to the benefits” of the materials.