Rheon Medical eyeWatch system is ready for market entry

The eyeWatch system will be sold directly by Rheon Medical in Switzerland and other key countries, while distribution agreements will be established for the rest of the territory. “

The CE approval is an important milestone in the development of the company and we are excited to start serving the community of glaucoma patients so much in need for safer and better performing surgical solutions”, said Nikos Stergiopulos CEO of Rheon Medical. “We have completed a thorough clinical program in Switzerland, Greece and the UK. More than 140 patients have been treated with the eyeWatch system producing outstanding results. We are now confident that we can offer to our glaucoma patients the best possible care.”

Thomas Zehnder, Chairman of Rheon Medical and General Partner of Blue Ocean Ventures SA added “As an early investor in Rheon Medical, we are extremely pleased about the CE mark approval. This achievement will allow the company to rapidly expand their key opinion leader network across Europe and other regions, where the CE mark is relevant.” 

Taking on Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness affecting more than 70 million people worldwide. Glaucoma is most often due to an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), which may result in damage of the optic nerve and, if untreated, in vision loss. Aqueous shunts (glaucoma drainage devices) have been increasingly used to lower IOP and they are now considered by many to be the first-line surgical intervention. Presently marketed shunts exhibit post- surgical complications at a fairly high rate (>30%) and often lead to surgical failures, a significant part of which can be attributed to the lack of intraocular pressure control. The eyeWatchTM system is a unique ocular implant, which together with its external control device allows tight control over intraocular pressure. Pressure control leads to better and safer therapy.

Swiss synergies at its best

Today’s Rheon Medical success is also the result of a fruitful collaboration with La Chaux-de-Fonds based Coat-X startup. Back in 2014, Rheon was looking for a solution to protect its magnets against corrosion and heard about Dr. Hogg and his technology. Since then, both ventures did trials, validated the coating process and optimized the multilayer coating solution. As Dr. Adan Villamarin, Rheon Medical COO explains, both companies worked a lot together to find and develop the best solution to protect the magnets of the eyeWatch device. Today they are putting in place together the industrialization of the production.

(ES)