Amblyotech

Amblyotech, a digital therapeutics company, was established to develop a novel treatment for amblyopia, commonly known as "lazy eye". The company was co-founded by James Blaha, who has firsthand experience with the condition, having amblyopia himself. His personal journey and struggles with traditional patching therapy, which is often met with low compliance and effectiveness in older children and adults, directly inspired the creation of a more engaging solution. The company's origins are closely tied to research from McGill University.

The core of Amblyotech's business is a software-based therapy that utilizes a dichoptic approach, presenting different images to each eye through video games played on a computer or tablet with 3D glasses. This method aims to re-train the brain to use both eyes together, improving binocular vision and depth perception, rather than simply strengthening the weaker eye. The business model centered on developing and obtaining regulatory approval for this digital therapy, with the goal of licensing or selling the technology to a larger pharmaceutical or medical device company. Its target market includes pediatric and adult patients with amblyopia who have not found success with or are non-compliant with traditional treatments like eye patches. The company's product, known as AmblyoPlay (though initially developed under different names), was designed to be a more enjoyable and therefore more effective alternative to conventional methods.

A significant milestone in the company's history occurred in April 2020, when Novartis acquired Amblyotech. This acquisition integrated Amblyotech's digital therapeutic for amblyopia into Novartis's ophthalmology pipeline, providing the resources and expertise to advance the technology through further clinical trials and towards commercialization. Prior to the acquisition, Amblyotech had engaged in research collaborations, including one with Ubisoft, to develop visually engaging video games for the therapy. This strategic move by Novartis highlights the growing interest from major pharmaceutical players in the potential of digital therapeutics to address unmet medical needs.

Keywords: digital therapeutics, amblyopia, lazy eye, ophthalmology, dichoptic therapy, vision therapy, medical software, Novartis acquisition, pediatric healthcare, binocular vision