From Haute-Savoie to New York: Ciliatech opens a new subsidiary

Haute-Savoie is setting up shop in New York! Ciliatech, a company based near Annecy and specializing in glaucoma treatment, has just announced the opening of its first American subsidiary in the metropolis.

This major breakthrough comes just months after the company obtained CE marking last August – essential for marketing a medical device in the European market – for its Intercil Uveal Spacer surgical implant. The world's first device designed for a new category of glaucoma surgery, it is implanted using a unique "ab externo" surgical approach that preserves the integrity of the eye's anterior chamber and represents a significant departure from other methods.

This American subsidiary will be responsible for leading clinical research activities and strengthening ties with local investors. To support its establishment, Ciliatech plans to invest approximately €25 million over the next five years.

The next step is to collaborate with American ophthalmologists and, most importantly, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency responsible for authorizing the marketing of medical devices and drugs in the United States. Depending on the progress of the application with the FDA, the medtech company plans to launch its first American clinical trials by the end of 2026.

As a reminder, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The disease affects approximately 4.2 million people in the United States, and nearly 80 million globally.