CooperVision leader comments on products and acquisitions

Jerry Warner, executive vice president Americas and global commercial functions at CooperVision, spoke in a one-on-one interview about the company’s recent product expansions and place in the market. The discussion took place at Vision Expo East 2021 in Orlando, Florida.

Product launch and expansion

The company plans a soft launch of My Day multifocal contact lens this summer. The lens will feature a new multifocal design, including a +3.00 D add. Warner says the lens is offering an 80% success rate with first fits and 90% with second fits.

“Technology in multifocals is one of the things that if it excited doctors, it excites patients,” says Warner. “This is an opportunity to reengage in the presbyopia segment. Many patients are passionate about staying in contact lenses.”

He confirms that the company will add a multifocal toric daily disposable lens to its portfolio. However, he did not offer a timeline for the launch.

“If any company is going to do it, we will,” he says. “I don’t doubt our know-how to be able to do it.”

The company recently expanded the range of lenses in the toric market:

• Range of Biofinity made-to-order torics

• Range of My Day toric, offering the largest range in the market, Warner says. “By early 2022, we will expand the range of My Day toric to that of Biofinity toric.”

Acquisitions

Warner says that acquiring companies and technology furthers CooperVision’s footprint in 2 areas, orthokeratology (ortho-k) and scleral lenses, which allows the company to grow in new directions.

This growth began with the initial acquisition of Paragon Vision Sciences in December 2017. Paragon received FDA approval for its Corneal Refractive Therapy contact lens system in 2002.

In April 2021, CooperVision acquired No7 Contact Lenses, joining recent acquisitions of GP Specialists, and Blanchard Contact Lenses.

In addition, the company partnered with Essilor to create a 50-50 joint venture in the acquisition of SightGlass. SightGlass develops spectacle lenses to reduce myopia progression in children.

Myopia management fits into CooperVision’s wheelhouse with its specialty lens division and launch of MiSight 1-day disposable contact lenses to reduce myopia progression.

“You have to think about spectacle lenses,” says Warner. “We wanted to [acquire SightGlass] with a partnership.”

He predicts that myopia management will broaden quickly due to new players and technology coming to market.

“If you can accelerate uptake, kids will benefit the most,” he says.