Alcon (ALC) to acquire LumiThera

Alcon Inc. (NYSE: ALC) announced its intention to acquire LumiThera Inc. and its photobiomodulation device for treating early and intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration, according to a press release statement.

The photobiomodulation device received FDA de novo market authorization in November 2024 and CE Mark in November 2018. The device is currently available in Europe, Latin America, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Clinical trial data from the LIGHTSITE III study showed that patients with photobiomodulation-treated eyes gained one line of visual acuity on average from baseline at months 13, 21 and maintained improvement at month 24. About 88% of patients in the treatment group maintained or gained vision versus baseline at month 24.

The transaction excludes LumiThera's AdaptDx and Nova/Diopsys diagnostic devices, which will be separated and spun off to LumiThera shareholders prior to the acquisition. These devices will continue to be marketed by the LumiThera spin-off entity.

"For more than 25 years, Alcon has been a leader in vitreoretinal surgery, and we are excited to expand our offerings into the clinic, to help millions of people living with dry AMD gain vision," said Sean Clark, Vice President and General Manager, Global Surgical Franchise at Alcon.

Nearly 200 million people globally live with dry AMD, which is a progressive disease with no cure and a leading cause of blindness in developed nations. The photobiomodulation device uses low-level light to stimulate mitochondrial energy production in retinal cells.

Subject to customary closing conditions and a LumiThera shareholder vote, the companies anticipate completing the acquisition in the third quarter of 2025.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Paramount seeks $1.88B bond from state AGs to cover costs of WBD merger delay - CNBC
• B.Riley Downgrades Lantheus Holdings (LNTH) to Neutral
• Wolfpack Research: 'we are short FTK because their $400m deal has been canceled'