AbbVie Inc of the US has formed an alliance with the Belgian company iSTAR Medical SA to further develop and commercialise a surgical device for treating patients with glaucoma. Glaucoma is a progressive disease estimated to affect more than 100 million people globally of which primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form. The iSTAR device is designed to enhance natural fluid outflow from the eye, reducing intraocular pressure and the need for medication.
