Alimera Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Alpharetta, Georgia that specializes in the commercialization and development of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. The company's main focus is on diseases affecting the back of the eye, or retina. Its main product is Iluvien, a fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant. History Alimera was founded in June 2003 by Dan Myers, Daniel White, Dave Holland and Mark Testerman. Three of the founders were previously part of Ciba Vision Ophthalmics, which was renamed Novartis Ophthalmics following a merger. In 2004, Alimera Sciences introduced Soothe emollient (lubricant) eye drops for people with dry eyes. Soothe was the first lubricant eye drop to feature Restoryl, a lipid restorative that works to re-establish the lipid (oily) layer of tears, promoting sustained moisture retention. Soothe was a mineral oil in water emulsion developed by Chris Brancewicz (then at Clarkson University) for Ocular Research of Boston from 1996 to 2001. Soothe was sold to Bausch & Lomb in August 2007. In 2006, Alimera Sciences developed and submitted for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval an application for a prescription to over-the-counter drug switch of 0.025% ketotifen fumarate, for the temporary relief of ocular itch. This product, Alaway, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2006 and was sold along with a potential future line extension to Bausch & Lomb, which began marketing Alaway in spring 2007. The company's main product, Iluvien, is a sustained release intravitreal implant that delivers sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide for 36 months. Alimera conducted two phase 3 clinical trials for Iluvien involving 956 patients in sites across the United States, Canada, Europe and India to assess the efficacy and safety of Iluvien at two dose levels. The company submitted the Iluvien new drug application to the FDA in June 2010 and was granted priority review in August 2010. In December 2010, November 2011, and October 2013 the Food and Drug Administration issued complete response letters stating that it was unable to approve a new drug application for Iluvien. Alimera met with the Food and Drug Administration in December 2013 and entered into labeling discussions. As a result, the company plans to refile with the FDA in early 2014. In July 2010, a marketing authorization application for Iluvien was submitted to seven European countries via the Decentralized Regulatory Procedure with the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency serving as the Reference