– Alphabet company Verily and Santen Pharmaceutical launch joint venture focused on developing and commercializing ophthalmic devices and comprehensive tech-enabled solutions.
– The joint venture will focus on tackling ophthalmic conditions, such as glaucoma and dry eye.
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Verily, an Alphabet company, announced the establishment of a joint venture focused on applying microelectronics and scalable digital technologies to ophthalmology. The new joint venture is driven by a mission to improve eye health for people everywhere, starting by developing solutions to support modern ophthalmology practice globally.
Worldwide Impact of Eye Health Issues
One in thirty people worldwide have experienced an issue with eye health and it is estimated that about 80% of visual impairments can be prevented by early detection and treatment. 1 In the healthcare industry, digital tools and technologies may present a meaningful way to develop more preventive and proactive solutions.
Joint Venture Details
Combining Santen’s industry knowledge and technology in ophthalmology and Verily’s expertise in the development of connected, integrated medical devices and machine learning, the new company plans to create and commercialize unique ophthalmic devices and comprehensive tech-enabled solutions.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Santen, a global company with an established presence in the ophthalmology industry, to develop novel solutions leveraging microelectronics and machine learning for better eye care. Our focus is first and foremost on taking care of patients. By combining Santen’s expertise and Verily’s advanced technology, our joint venture is well-positioned to tackle innovative projects spanning ophthalmic conditions, such as glaucoma and dry eye. We’ll explore ways to use technology not only to diagnose disease, but to improve treatment and develop more precise interventions in ophthalmology,” said Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA, Senior Director of Ophthalmic Innovation at Verily and CEO-designate of the joint venture.
