Novartis acquires novel digital therapy for 'lazy eye' company

Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX) says it has completed the acquisition of Amblyotech, a USA-based software start-up, and will, in collaboration with Ubisoft and McGill University, pursue the development of the acquired digital technology for the treatment of amblyopia. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

It is estimated that amblyopia affects roughly 3% of the global population, some of whom could be appropriate candidates for this therapy if approved. The condition can lead to poor vision and other quality of life issues if left untreated. The condition can impact children and adults beyond their vision, making it difficult to drive and maintain a sense of autonomy. Current treatment options, including patching and/or atropine, are associated with low compliance and low success rates3. Approved therapies for adults are limited.

Designed to enhance compliance, Amblyotech utilizes active gaming and passive video technology with 3-D glasses, training the eyes to work together to view an image in full. Its software employs a unique visual presentation, called dichoptic display, where each eye is presented with different images using a proprietary algorithm. In early clinical studies, Amblyotech’s software demonstrated improvements in vision in both children and adults with faster onset compared to standard of care treatments4.