QLT PhotoTherapeutics
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
FDA approval of Visudyne (verteporfin for injection) to treat "wet" age-related macular degeneration in conjunction with lasers made by Coherent and Zeiss Humphrey Systems to activate the photodynamic therapy is announced April 13. Independent marketing of Coherent's Opal Photoactivator and Zeiss' Visulas 690 PDT lasers, which have only slightly different features, commenced immediately following approval. The Opal is priced in the $40,000-50,000 range and the Visulas is priced at $37,900-44,900, depending on configuration with or without a slitlamp