November 16, 2012 -- OptiMedica Corp. has announced the closing of a $35 million growth round of financing. Proceeds will be used to continue the rapid global commercialization of the company’s Catalys® Precision Laser System for cataract surgery, support the development of innovative system enhancements, and fuel a next-generation portfolio of additional products. The round drew participation from all of OptiMedica’s existing venture backers, which include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Alloy Ventures, DAG Ventures, BlackRock Private Equity Partners and Bio*One Capital – an esteemed group that together have more than $3.5 trillion under management.
“OptiMedica has been committed to bringing the precision and safety benefits of femtosecond laser technology to cataract surgery since our founding in 2004. Today, we are literally standing at the forefront of a landscape shift in the field that, we believe, will ultimately make the laser the centerpiece of the procedure,” said Mark J. Forchette, OptiMedica president and chief executive officer. “Catalys has been shown in both clinical practice and clinical studies to deliver unparalleled precision and performance, with results and customer satisfaction that lead the industry. Our exceptional laser technology has enabled surgeons to achieve consistently excellent clinical results and explore a broad new area of innovation in the field. We are actively engaged in this exploration and look forward to a long future of scientific leadership that will continue to bring untold benefits to cataract surgeons and their patients.”
OptiMedica’s Catalys is U.S. FDA market cleared and CE mark approved for performing every step of the laser cataract procedure. Since its international launch in November 2011 and its U.S. launch in February 2012, the system has been installed at leading ophthalmic practices in 10 countries and used to perform more than 6,000 laser cataract procedures worldwide. Surgeons have reported exceptional results with Catalys, including complete capsulotomies in 99 to 100 percent of procedures1, elimination of ultrasound energy during lens disassembly and removal2, and exceptionally precise corneal incisions3. They have also reported little to no learning curve with the system.
“The rapid worldwide adoption of Catalys is not only a direct result of the system’s unparalleled performance but also of the amazing talent and unique Silicon Valley culture that you’ll find at OptiMedica,” said Brook Byers, partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and chairman of the board, OptiMedica. “This is a company with a proven track record of delivering innovation that transforms existing standards of care. We are very enthusiastic about OptiMedica’s long-term prospects to lead the field of cataract surgery and continue to drive better results for cataract surgeons and their patients.”
About Catalys
Catalys is a next generation laser cataract surgery platform that combines a femtosecond laser, integrated 3D Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging, and OptiMedica’s breakthrough pattern scanning technology in an ergonomic, easy-to-use system. Distinguishing features include a Liquid Optics™ Interface that ensures stable system-patient attachment and optimizes the optical path to the patient’s eye, and a proprietary Integral Guidance™ mapping system that ensures the femtosecond laser pulses are delivered safely and precisely to the intended location. In addition, Catalys features an easy-to-use and elegant graphical user interface designed to simplify the planning process and minimize the time the patient is under the dock.
About OptiMedica
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., OptiMedica Corp. is Silicon Valley-based global ophthalmic device company dedicated to developing performance-driven technologies that improve patient outcomes. Exclusively focused in the cataract therapeutic area, the company has developed the Catalys Precision Laser System to transform existing standards of care in cataract surgery.
OptiMedica’s legacy of innovation in ophthalmology also includes the development and commercialization of the PASCAL® Method of retinal photocoagulation, which was acquired by Topcon Corp. in August 2010. The company is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Alloy Ventures, DAG Ventures, BlackRock Private Equity Partners and Bio*One Capital.
