Dr Malcolm Carey and Glauko's Chris Money

Glaukos has been named as the exclusive distributor of Japanese ophthalmic healthcare company Santen’s Preserflo Microshunt in Australia and New Zealand.

Formerly called InnFocus, the Preserflo Microshunt is a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) implant designed to help drain eye fluid and reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) whose IOP is not controlled with glaucoma medications. It was reviewed in a prospective, randomised, controlled, single-masked, multi-centre study where the Preserflo was implanted intraoperatively with 0.2mg/ml concentration of mitomycin C (MMC) against trabeculectomy with the same concentration of MMC. Results showed the majority of patients treated with Preserflo experienced a greater than or equal to 20% decline in IOP at month 12 to an average of 14mmHg. Preserflo-treated patients also demonstrated a lower incidence of hypotony, bleb leaks and lens opacity compared to the trabeculectomy treatment arm, reported Santen.

Preserflo Microshunt illustration. Credit: Santen

“We are delighted to expand our existing collaboration with Santen (and) expect Santen’s Microshunt to complement our expanding portfolio of MIGS products by providing glaucoma patients with this ab-externo alternative to conventional filtration surgeries,” said Glaukos CEO Thomas Burns.

Subject to normal regulatory approvals, Preserflo should be available in Australia and New Zealand towards the end of 2021, said Glaukos.