Irvine-based Allergan Inc. said Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration approved its eye implant for treating retinal disease.
Ozurdex, the implant, is a biodegradable polymer placed in the back of a patient’s eye and releases dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug, into the retina.
Ozurdex will be used to treat macular edema, a swelling condition that comes from diseased blood vessels in the retina. Macular edema is often found in diabetics and threatens eyesight.
Allergan said Ozurdex will be available to doctors and patients in the third quarter.
Allergan got the implant, which was once known as Posurdex, in 2003 through a $230 million buy of Sunnyvale-based Oculex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
