DUBLIN, Calif. and JENA, Germany, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 2, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., formally completed the acquisition of San Diego-based Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc. (LDT).
LDT’s projected revenues for 2004 are approximately $20M and are expected to grow with the added capabilities of the CZM organization.
“This acquisition allows Carl Zeiss Meditec to offer a greater breadth of important options for the diagnosis and management of glaucoma,” said Jim Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. “With the global market for glaucoma products expected to grow at a rapid pace, we are well positioned to continue our leadership in this area. Pursuing opportunities, such as this acquisition, is a key component of our growth plan and will enable the company to provide a more comprehensive portfolio of eye care solutions.”
Carl Zeiss Meditec’s innovative, globally recognized Stratus OCT(TM) system allows for analysis of the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), as well as the macula and the optic nerve head, while LDT’s GDxVCC(TM) product measures changes to the tissue characteristics of the RNFL. These complementary systems will enhance Carl Zeiss Meditec’s glaucoma portfolio and offer customers two valuable methods to evaluate the RNFL. The first indication of disease is generally identified by a change in the retinal nerve fiber layer.
The companies’ products address the needs of a wide range of customers: LDT’s GDx VCC is a dedicated glaucoma diagnosis and management tool, while the Stratus OCT is a multipurpose retinal imaging system used not only for the diagnosis of glaucoma, but also for a wide array of conditions including AMD, diabetic retinopathy and pre-and post-cataract assessment.
The global market for glaucoma products is expected to increase at an annual rate of over 10 percent a result of the aging population and technology advances. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Approximately three million Americans, and more than 60 million people worldwide have glaucoma, but almost half are unaware that they have it. Therefore, the company is well positioned with glaucoma solutions to meet future expanding demands.
About Carl Zeiss Meditec
Built on an unparalleled 150-year heritage of optical innovation, Carl Zeiss Meditec (International Securities Identification Number DE000531370) is one of the world’s leading eye care solutions providers. Its product line includes systems for the diagnosis and treatment of the four main diseases of the eye: refraction, cataract, glaucoma and retinal disorders.
The company has incorporated its technologically-superior optics into a stream of product innovations throughout the years, from slit lamps and fundus cameras; to the Humphrey(R) Field Analyzer, recognized as the global standard for glaucoma detection and management; to its newest applications of lasers and light as embodied in its leading-edge MEL-80(TM) refractive laser and eye- scanning Stratus OCT(TM) optical coherence tomographer.
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is based in Jena, Germany, with key subsidiaries in the U.S. (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.) and Japan (Carl Zeiss Meditec Limited). The rapidly aging global population and other trends are expected to grow the ophthalmic market through 2010, and the company is focused on applying innovative optical technologies to protect and enhance vision now and into the future.
For more information, please contact: Eric Beikmann of FischerHealth, +1-310-577-7870, ext. 109, ebeikmann@fischerhealth.com, for Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
CONTACT: Eric Beikmann of FischerHealth, +1-310-577-7870, ext. 109,ebeikmann@fischerhealth.com, for Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.