Abbott, Zeiss enter U.S. commercial collaboration; new technologies receive FDA clearance

Chicago-Abbott and Carl Zeiss Meditec announced that they have entered into a non-exclusive commercial collaboration in the United States.

Under the agreement, Abbott will offer each company’s suite of cataract surgery products when developing clinical and contracting solutions with customers in the United States, announced Abbott during a media briefing Friday evening here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

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This comprehensive offering-including synergistic diagnostics, visualization systems, lens extraction systems, and IOLs-provides surgeons with access to a complete cataract surgery portfolio to assist them in maximizing visual outcomes and streamlining patient flow, according to Abbott.

"Together with surgeons, Abbott is committed to delivering unsurpassed visual outcomes to patients," said Murthy Simhambhatla, PhD, senior vice president, Medical Optics, Abbott. "Our collaboration with Zeiss further demonstrates our commitment by expanding our portfolio and providing our customers a unique and comprehensive cataract solution."

"Surgeons should have the choice of the best and most innovative products to maximize clinical outcomes, manage their data, and optimize their workflow," said Ludwin Monz, PhD, president and chief executive officer of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. "That is why we agreed to expand our customer reach in the United States by making our products available additionally through Abbott."

The Abbott cataract portfolio includes the Catalys laser cataract technology; Tecnis family of monofocal, toric, and multifocal IOLs; Whitestar Signature phacoemulsification lens removal system; Healon viscoelastics; and various related adjuncts and accessories used in ocular surgery.

The Zeiss Cataract Suite Markerless products in the collaboration include the IOLMaster optical biometer, FORUM data management system, CALLISTO eye computer-assisted cataract surgery system, and the OPMI Lumera family of surgical microscopes.

In addition, Abbott announced it received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for two new products used in laser cataract surgery-the Cataract Operating System 3 (cOS3) and the Liquid Optics Interface 12. Both are for Abbott’s Catalys Precision Laser System.