Alimera reports initial revenue from Iluvien

Alimera Sciences reported results for the quarter ended June 30, which included initial revenue of $179,000 generated from the commercial launch of Iluvien in Germany and the United Kingdom during the quarter.

The company also reported a net loss of $16.4 million. This compares to a net loss of $4.7 million and no revenue for the quarter ended a year earlier.

"We began generating revenue from Iluvien in the second quarter of 2013 in Germany and the United Kingdom and continue to make progress in gaining market access in Germany, the United Kingdom and France," said Dan Myers, Alimera's president and chief executive officer. "The initial response has been very positive among early adopting physicians as well as patients, with some of the patients receiving an implant in both eyes."

The treatment consists of a tiny, cylindrical polymide tube that contains 190 µg of fluocinolone acetonide. The company says it is the first product to provide a therapeutic effect of up to 36 months for patients with chronic diabetic macular edema insufficiently responsive to available therapies.

Iluvien was launched commercially in the U.K. in April and Germany in May. The company expects to launch Iluvien in France in the first quarter of 2014. Alimera also is pursuing expanded reimbursement for Iluvien in the U.K. and Germany and will soon engage in price negotiations in France.