Avedro Inc. has significantly expanded its patent portfolio.

The company has obtained an exclusive license to a patent held by the California Institute of Technology in the field of corneal cross-linking using ultraviolet light. This method patent (No. 8,414,911) covers two key cross-linking applications: accelerated cross-linking and corneal cross-linking used during refractive surgery.

Additionally, the company has licensed three patents from IROC Innocross (Nos. 8,475,437; 8,887,734; and 8,936,591, with European counterparts). Those method and apparatus patents cover basic devices used for cross-linking, customized cross-linking, and treatment planning which protect the Avedro PiXL (photorefractive intrastromal cross-linking) procedure of custom topography guided cross-linking.

Avedro also recently was granted two of its own patents covering the concept of oxygen enhancement during corneal cross-linking. It is now widely accepted that corneal oxygen concentration is a key factor in cross-linking, particularly when using the trans-epithelial method.

“The Caltech, IROC Innocross, and our own patent portfolio provides Avedro with very strong protection in the corneal cross-linking market. These patents serve as an important foundation for us as we continue to grow the business and develop our product pipeline,” said David Muller, Ph.D., CEO of Avedro. “Our patent portfolio, including over 30 additional patent applications, combined with our anticipated Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of progressive keratoconus and corneal ectasia following refractive surgery poses a significant barrier to entry for any possible competitors.”

Based in Boston, Mass., Avedro is a privately held pharmaceutical and medical device company advancing the science and technology of corneal cross linking and refractive correction. Avedro’s CE Marked products include capital equipment such as the UV-X devices, the KXL and KXL II Systems. Avedro’s KXL System and pharmaceuticals are being used in an open-label study involving 83 KXL Systems placed in U.S. clinical sites. Avedro products are not approved for sale in the United States.

Watch the following video to learn more about transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking.