Coherent Granted Priority Review by FDA for Laser Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 27, 1999--

Coherent, Inc. (Nasdaq:COHR) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assigned priority review status to its new joint device/drug application for Visudyne(TM) therapy for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), indicating that the FDA will act on the application within six months. The application, filed jointly by Coherent and QLT PhotoTherapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: QLTI), covers Coherent's new OPAL(TM) photoactivator laser, as well as the verteporferin drug which is activated by the special purpose 689nm diode laser device. Visudyne therapy will be marketed globally by CIBA Vision Corporation, the eye care unit of Novartis.

The laser and drug are used for the treatment of the wet form AMD, the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50 in the western world. Design and development of this laser and new treatment modality underscore the Coherent commitment to "breakthrough" devices. Coherent developed the first commercially available argon lasers used for photocoagulation in ophthalmology in 1970.

The results of the pivotal Phase III trials, known as the TAP (Treatment of AMD with Photodynamic therapy) investigation showed a statistically significant benefit at 12 months to those patients treated with Visudyne therapy compared to those administered a placebo. Results also showed that Visudyne therapy was well tolerated, with the majority of adverse events occurring in similar numbers among the treatment and placebo groups.

Jim Taylor, Coherent Medical Group President, said, "We are excited about Coherent's research with the original investigators exploring the field of ocular PDT has culminated in a therapy that will save the sight of many AMD patients."

Coherent Medical is a world leader in the development of laser products and services for ophthalmic, aesthetic, and surgical applications.

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Coherent, Inc. is a Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 company and a world leader in design, manufacture and marketing of lasers and laser systems for medical, scientific and commercial applications. Please direct any questions to Peter Schuman, Director of Investor Relations at [phone]. For more information about Coherent, visit our Web site at http://www.cohr.com for product and financial updates. To receive a full text copy of this press release by fax, please call [phone].

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