ViaLase Secures $40 Million Series C Financing to Advance First-in-Class Femtosecond Laser for Glaucoma Treatment

Apr 05, 2024 00:13 CST Updated 00:13

ViaLase

Glaucoma Treatment Developer

Source: Eye Future; Editor: Sophia

Reprint requirements: Can be reprinted 24 hours after the first publication, source must be credited.

Recently, focusing on the developmentInnovative Glaucoma TherapyTheViaLase, Inc.Announced Successful Completion$40 million (approximately 289 million RMB)C Round FinancingThis round of financing was led by new investors, with Venture Investors Health Fund, Arboretum Ventures, and Falcon Vision, an ophthalmic investment platform under KKR, following.

This financing willTo advance key milestones such as the ViaLase Laser clinical trials, registration, and commercialization. Once approved,ViaLase Laser is Expected to BecomeThe First for the Treatment of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)Femtosecond Laser Technology。

ViaLase LaserCombining the precision of femtosecond laser technology with the accuracy of micron-level image guidance, provides a product namedFemtosecond Laser Image-Guided High-Precision Trabeculotomy (FLigHT)TheNon-Invasive Glaucoma Treatment Methods. This innovative FLigHT surgery,Reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) through non-invasive, non-surgical methods, will provide doctors with better precision and visibility in creating passages in the trabecular meshwork (TM), bringing breakthrough progress to glaucoma treatment.

# Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

The anterior chamber angle of POAG patients appears normal and is open.However, the aqueous humor outflow system at the trabecular meshwork undergoes pathological changes, increasing the resistance to aqueous humor outflow and thereby leading to elevated intraocular pressure.

When the lesion progresses to a certain extent, the patient experiencesBlurred vision, eye swelling, and headacheSymptoms such as...
When intraocular pressure fluctuates significantly or is at a higher level, it may lead toPain in the root of the nose, rainbow vision, and foggy vision。
When the lesion progresses to the late stage, it appearsMobility Impairment and Night BlindnessAnd other phenomena.

Therefore,ViaLase Laser Technology Has Broad Market Prospects, will provide a new treatment option for hundreds of millions of glaucoma patients worldwide.

# Glaucoma Treatment Market

Glaucoma is a group of diseases characterized by pathologically elevated intraocular pressure, leading to progressive optic nerve damage, which results in visual field defects and even permanent blindness.Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.`, second only to cataracts, is also`The World's No. 1 Irreversible Blinding Eye Disease。According to FMI data,The net value of the glaucoma treatment market will increase from USD 5.5 billion in 2021 to$7.6 Billion in 2032, with an average annual compound growth rate of 3%.

Reducing intraocular pressure to decrease visual field progression is the only currently verified treatment for glaucoma.Methods for treating glaucoma include medication, laser treatment, and surgical treatment.Eye drops are a recognized treatment for glaucoma, but if medication does not adequately control intraocular pressure, doctors may consider laser treatment or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). In necessary cases, traditional invasive filtering surgery may also be required.

Traditional Glaucoma SurgeryMainly focusing on trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage device implantation.External Drainage Surgery MethodBoth are non-physiological drainage methods, which involve artificially creating a long-term filtering bleb under the conjunctiva to directly drain aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into the bleb, thereby achieving the effect of lowering intraocular pressure. Theoretically, this surgical method results in the greatest reduction in intraocular pressure and has the widest range of application.

But the disadvantage is that once the filtering bleb is established, it requires lifelong maintenance, and there are many棘手complications during and after the surgery.Such as shallow anterior chamber, low intraocular pressure, endophthalmitis, and filtration bleb complications, etc. In addition, the filtration bleb may fail for various reasons at a later stage, leading to increased intraocular pressure.

In addition, there is laser treatment,All types and stages of glaucoma can be treated with laser therapy., including the following types.

Laser Peripheral Iridectomy: The operation is simple and safe, with fast postoperative recovery and definite long-term effects. It is mainly used to treat angle-closure glaucoma.

Laser Peripheral Iridoplasty: Used to treat patients with angle-closure glaucoma, safe and effective, but the treatment effect is not permanent, requiring regular postoperative follow-up.

Laser Trabeculoplasty: For the treatment of open-angle glaucoma, the surgery can be repeated.

# ViaLase Laser Femtosecond Laser System

ViaLase laser is designed to combine the precision of femtosecond laser technology with the accuracy of micron-level image guidance, providing a method calledFemtosecond Laser Image-Guided High-Precision Trabeculotomy or FLigHT Non-Invasive Glaucoma Treatment。

Different from other glaucoma surgeries,FLigHT does not require the creation of a fistula, thus potentially reducing the risk of associated complications.。

ViaLase® Laser Technology Developed by ViaLase, asThe First ProductFemtosecond Laser for the Treatment of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG), which represents a major technological breakthrough in the field of ophthalmic treatment.

This technology throughNon-invasive, Non-surgicalMethod,Precise Operation Using Femtosecond Laser, providing a completely new solution for glaucoma treatment.This innovative approach may revolutionize existing treatment paradigms., improve the treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients.

Another product under ViaLase, Inc. ——ViaLuxe Laser System, used for performing femtosecond laser image-guided high-precision trabeculotomy (FLigHT). The surgery aims to utilize femtosecond laser and micron-level precise anterior chamber angle imaging technology,Creating a customized drainage channel non-invasively through the trabecular meshwork to reduce intraocular pressure.。

The device is divided into four parts.：

ViaLens Patient Interface: Provide a clear field of view in a non-invasive manner, and precisely deliver femtosecond laser to the trabecular meshwork;

ViaVue Gonioscope: Display the angular structure of all four quadrants, providing doctors with a comprehensive perspective;

ViaLuxe Laser: Precisely create channels, protecting adjacent tissues from damage;

ViaLink: Connect to a tablet via Bluetooth, allowing doctors to view program data and diagnostic information in real time;

Currently, according to the official website of ViaLase, Inc.,Neither of the two products has been launched for sale and they are still awaiting regulatory approval.。

# ViaLase Laser Clinical Data

In 2023, ViaLase, Inc. announced the 24-month human study safety data of the first FLigHT non-invasive glaucoma treatment using ViaLase technology.
During the 24-month observation period,The average intraocular pressure of patients decreased from 22.3±5.5 mmHg at baseline to 14.5±2.6 mmHg.A decrease of 34.6%。
In the same year, the results of ViaLase, Inc.'s Phase 1 VIA-001 trial showed that at all follow-up time points (1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-operation),The average intraocular pressure decreased by 20%, 25%, and 23%.。
68% of the surgical eyes achieved ≥20% intraocular pressure reduction at 6 months without the need for additional glaucoma medications.。
At the 2023 American Glaucoma Society meeting, ViaLase also presented another 12-month study result.The results show that,The mean IOP was significantly lower after treatment, and none of the patients required IOP-lowering medications at 1 year., and no scars were found during the gonioscopy examination.
In October 2023, ViaLase announced the completion of patient enrollment in the Phase 2 VIA-002 trial.Phase 2 Trial to Compare ViaLase with Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)

# Company Profile

ViaLase, Inc., a clinical-stage medical technology company located in Aliso Viejo, California, focuses onRevolutionizing Traditional Glaucoma Treatment MethodsViaLase has revolutionized the traditional glaucoma treatment model by introducing a trulyNon-invasive Image-Guided Femtosecond Laser Therapy, improve the care of glaucoma patients.

Overview of Key Members of ViaLase, Inc.：

▲From the company's official website

This Series C financing round has attracted substantial investment, including new investors as well as existing ones such as Venture Investors Health Fund, Arboretum Ventures, and Falcon Vision.

Tibor Juhasz, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of ViaLase, Inc., stated：

"The strong support from our investors proves thatViaLase Laser Has Great Potential in Improving Glaucoma Treatment。We are about to enter a new phase of corporate development—commercialization. We are very fortunate to have the financial support, resources, and advice from such a high-quality group of investors.”

This successful financing highlights investors' widespread interest and recognition in ViaLase's innovative glaucoma therapy. The progress of subsequent product development and commercialization will continue to be closely watched.

Editor-in-Chief | Zhao Qing Reviewed by | Yi He