Our mission is to reshape the bladder cancer care pathway
Bladder cancer presents a growing global challenge
Bladder cancer is the 9th most common cancer worldwide, and is among the most expensive cancers to treat.1,2
~75% of bladder cancers diagnosed are superficial tumours (also known as non-muscle invasive bladder cancer or NMIBC).3 Treatment of recurrent superficial bladder cancer is estimated to account for more than 1 million procedures globally per year.4
Most superficial bladder cancer care still relies on the operating room (OR)
While superficial low-grade bladder cancer usually comes with a low mortality risk,5 the current treatment pathway relies on surgical procedures under general anaesthesia, such as transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT).
This means low-mortality-risk cases can take up a large share of OR time that could be directed to more critical cases.6
OR-based procedures can impact patient quality of life
For patients, surgery under general anaesthesia can come with long recovery times and significant quality-of-life costs.
Every TURBT procedure can bring a full recovery period of up to 8 weeks, catheter use, and complications such as infection, bleeding, pain, and voiding dysfunction.7-11
This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
Introducing ATLAS: a dedicated laser solution for superficial bladder cancer
Optheras is building ATLAS – the Automatic Targeting Laser Ablation System.
Our goal is to create a first-of-its-kind platform for use outside of the OR, with real-time assistive capabilities to support urologists during procedures.*
With care pathways outside of the OR unlocked, OR capacity would be freed for high-risk cases and other urgent urology procedures.
Our laser technology is currently in development. This device is investigational only and is not approved for commercial use.
Pioneering assistive laser technology to redefine bladder cancer management
Optheras was founded by specialists from the largest urology department in Northern Europe and experienced laser industry professionals, with a shared mission: to create an innovative laser platform to unlock superficial bladder cancer treatment outside of the OR.
Optheras' laser design stems from more than a decade of clinical research. Our ambition is to create category-defining laser technology that would help make procedures more efficient, and lower treatment burden for patients.
We are accelerating development of our breakthrough laser technology to improve care for clinicians and patients
Publications and news
Keep up to date on the latest advances.
Publication
In-office laser coagulation of Ta bladder tumor compared to TUR-BT: 12 months follow-up randomized clinical trial
Pedersen et al., The Journal of Urology (2026)
Press release
Optheras continues progress and raises capital for clinical study
Birkerød, Denmark, August 26 2025
Publication
National complication and cost burden of transurethral resection of bladder tumor for bladder cancer
Zhang et al., Urologic Oncology (2025)