iSTAR Medical has expanded the commercial rollout of its MINIject® in Australia, marking its first venture outside of Europe. The move follows the successful introduction of MINIject® in various European countries, including Germany, the UK, Switzerland, and most recently, Ireland.
In Australia, where glaucoma is the primary cause of irreversible blindness, affecting an estimated 300,000 individuals, with primary open-angle glaucoma constituting approximately 90 percent of cases, MINIject® provides a significant advancement in treatment options.
As the only commercially available supraciliary MIGS implant, MINIject® has demonstrated consistent and meaningful performance, boasting a favorable safety profile.
The recent expansion allows glaucoma patients throughout Australia to access the benefits of MINIject®, addressing a crucial need for effective treatment.
The initial surgeries were successfully conducted in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane by esteemed professionals, including Associate Prof. Ashish Agar from Marsden Eye Surgery Centre and Sydney Eye Hospital, who is also the VP of the Australian Society of Ophthalmology.
Also conducting the surgeries were:
- Associate Prof. Andrew White from PersonalEYES, serving as the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Westmead Hospital, New South Wales
- Dr. Nathan Kerr from Eye Surgery Associates at Manningham Private Hospital, Victoria
- Dr. Geoffrey Ryan from the Queensland Eye Institute (QEI) at Mater South Brisbane, Queensland.
Associate Prof. Ashish Agar, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and VP Australian Society of Ophthalmologists, said, “By allowing us to target the supraciliary space, MINIject® represents an important innovation for the treatment of glaucoma.
“I am pleased to be able to offer patients a new safe and effective treatment option for open-angle glaucoma,” he said.
According to Dr Nathan Kerr, Specialist Ophthalmologist at Eye Surgery Associates as our population ages, the need for more innovative solutions to tackle increasing rates of glaucoma will continue to grow.
“MINIject® offers a less invasive and effective treatment option for glaucoma patients, and its availability in Australia ensures that more patients will be able to benefit from the advantages of this advanced treatment option.” he said.
Associate Prof. Andrew White, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Westmead Hospital, said, “The availability of MINIject® is a significant development for glaucoma treatment in Australia, providing an additional option for the safe and effective treatment of the condition. I am pleased to be able to offer this minimally-invasive treatment option to my patients.”
Michel Vanbrabant, CEO of iSTAR Medical also commented, “We are proud to now offer MINIject® to patients affected by open-angle glaucoma in Australia, with the first surgeries successfully completed in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney,”
“I would like to thank the clinicians involved for helping us achieve this significant milestone and look forward to reaching more patient,”
This innovative medical technology is set to transcend borders, offering advanced solutions to a wider spectrum of patients worldwide. As iSTAR Medical continues to break new ground, MINIject emerges as a beacon of transformative healthcare, poised to make a lasting impact on a global scale.
