Alcon acquires majority interest in cell therapy company Aurion Biotech, provides operational updates

News
Article

AURN001 is Aurion Biotech's clinical-stage allogeneic cell therapy asset for corneal oedema secondary to corneal endothelial disease

A phone with the Alcon logo on it, visible against another digital background. Concept image for Alcon company acquisition of Aurion Biotech. Image credit: ©Mojahid Mottakin – stock.adobe.com

Image credit: ©Mojahid Mottakin – stock.adobe.com

Alcon announced it has acquired a majority interest in Aurion Biotech, a clinical-stage company developing advanced cell therapies to treat eye diseases. The announcement comes on the heels of recent news that Alcon intends to acquire LENSAR, which is anticipated to close in mid-to-late 2025.

According to a press release from Alcon, Aurion will operate as a separate company with “full support,” including “broader R&D, regulatory, medical ophthalmic, and commercial capabilities” the company has at its disposal.

The Aurion board has appointed Arnaud Lacoste, PhD, formerly chief scientific officer, to the role of CEO of Aurion. In a press release, Lacoste commented on the purchase.

“As the global leader in eye care, Alcon will help Aurion optimise the development of AURN001,” said Lacoste. “Since Aurion’s formation in 2022, we’ve achieved significant clinical, regulatory and CMC milestones to bring this much-needed therapy to patients, because we know there is a chronic global shortage of corneal tissue. With our manufacturing innovations, we can expand cells from a single donor to produce up to 1,000 doses. We look forward to leveraging Alcon’s global resources and commercial expertise as we initiate our US phase 3 trials later this year.”

Aurion is developing AURN001, a clinical-stage allogeneic cell therapy asset, for corneal oedema secondary to corneal endothelial disease. It is a combination cell therapy product candidate comprised of allogeneic human corneal endothelial cells (neltependocel) and a rho kinase inhibitor (Y-27632). It is expected to move into phase 3 trials in the second half of 2025. AURN001 received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2024.

Aurion completed enrollment and dosing in its phase 1/2 clinical study of AURN001 and reported topline results at the end of 2024. A total of 97 participants were randomised across 5 treatment arms, and the data will support the advancement of AURN001 into phase 3 development, according to the company.

In September 2024, Aurion announced the first commercial launch of Vyznova in Japan, which contains neltependocel, for the treatment of bullous keratopathy of the cornea.

References:

  1. Alcon acquires majority interest in Aurion Biotech, Inc. to advance innovative cell therapy for corneal endothelial disease. Published March 26, 2025. Accessed March 26, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326223440/en/Alcon-Acquires-Majority-Interest-in-Aurion-Biotech-Inc.-to-Advance-Innovative-Cell-Therapy-for-Corneal-Endothelial-Disease

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
A photo of Seville, Spain, with the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology logo superimposed on it. Image credit: ©francovolpato – stock.adobe.com; logo courtesy COPHy
Anat Loewenstein, MD, Professor and Director, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, discusses the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology (COPHy)
Anat Loewenstein, MD, speaks about the 22nd Annual Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration Meeting in February 2025 and shares her global forecast for AI-driven home OCT
Sarah M. Thomasy, DVM, PhD, DACVO, a veterinary ophthalmologist at UC Davis, talks about how her research at the Glaucoma 360 symposium
I. Paul Singh, MD, an anterior segment and glaucoma specialist, discusses the Glaucoma 360 conference, where he participated in a panel discussion on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in glaucoma care.
Charles Wykoff, MD, PhD, discusses his Floretina ICOOR presentation topic, retinal non-perfusion in diabetic retinopathy, with David Hutton, editor of Ophthalmology Times
Elizabeth Cohen, MD, discusses the Zoster Eye Disease study at the 2024 AAO meeting
Victoria L Tseng, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology and glaucoma specialist, UCLA
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.