Swiss company Novartis reported Dec. 22 that it had agreed to acquire UK-based ophthalmic gene therapy company Gyroscope Therapeutics. Gyroscope has been developing GT005, an AAV2-based one-time gene therapy candidate in Phase II study for the treatment of geographic atrophy. GT005 aims to restore balance to an overactive complement system by increasing production of the Complement Factor I protein to …
Nanodropper and Lumata Health Launch Partnership Aimed at Improving Patient Care
Nanodropper recently announced a partnership with Lumata Health, which includes the launch of a pilot program bringing the Nanodropper Adaptor device to Lumata Health network patients across the United States. Lumata Health is a tech-enabled health care service company focused on preventing blindness from chronic eye conditions. It manages over 100,000 people at risk of vision loss and is backed by over $2 …
Genentech, Lineage to Partner on Future Development of OpRegen RPE Cell Therapy
Lineage Cell Therapeutics announced Dec. 20 that it had entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche group, for the development and commercialization of Lineage’s retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy OpRegen. OpRegen, delivered subretinally in a single injection, targets advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with geographic atrophy (GA)
Samsara Vision Files SEC Paperwork for $25 Million IPO to Advance IMT
Samsara Vision, of Far Hills, New Jersey, plans to raise $25 million in an initial public offering to advance a next-generation version of its Implantable Miniature Telescope (by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz), according to paperwork filed with the US SEC on Jan. 7. The company, previously known as VisionCare, plans to offer 4,166,667 shares of common stock at $6 per share …
DORC Increases Focus on Cataract Surgery with WEFIS Partnership
DORC International and WEFIS GmbH announced Jan. 12 that they have formed a new strategic partnership to develop cataract surgical instruments for use with DORC’s EVA platform and EQUIPHACO range of disposable devices.
EyeD Pharma Raises $51 Million to Advance Intraocular Drug Implants
Belgium-based EyeD Pharma announced Dec. 22 that it had raised €45 million (US $51 million) in a funding round backed by a mix of private and public investors. The company said the funding would allow it to advance its lead candidate TimoD into human trials. TimoD is a non-biodegradable intraocular implant designed to deliver a controlled dose of the glaucoma drug …
Rayner Launches Blue Light-Filtering IOL in Europe, Gets FDA Green Light to Begin US Trial of Trifocal Lenses
UK-based ophthalmic company Rayner announced Jan. 5 that it had launched the RayOne Hydrophobic BLF, the company’s first blue light-filtering IOL, in Europe. The lens is available from 0.0 diopters to +32.0 diopters in countries accepting CE-marked products. It expands the RayOne portfolio to eight models. Rayner CEO Tim Clover said of the launch: “Over a third of all lenses …
Belkin Vision to Receive €17.5M Grant from European Innovation Council
Belkin Vision announced that it has received €17.5M of blended financing in grants and equity from the European Innovation Council Accelerator (EIC). Belkin Vision’s glaucoma laser is currently in the final stages of clinical trials across the UK and Europe, and if approved, would be the first and only contactless laser treatment for glaucoma, according to a company news release.
OKYO Says its Anti-inflammatory Dry Eye Candidate Also Reduces Ocular Pain
OKYO Pharma, of London, announced Dec. 13 that its first drug candidate, OK-101, developed to treat dry eye disease as an anti-inflammatory, also showed potent ocular pain reducing properties in a mouse model. OK-101 is a novel, long-acting G protein-coupled receptor-based lipidated chemerin peptide developed to bind to ChemR23 receptors in the eye and interrupt the inflammatory response.
Nicox Raises $16.9 Million in Private Placement
French company Nicox announced Dec. 9 that it had raised €15 million (US $16.9 million) through a private placement of 6 million new ordinary shares. Warrants issued in the private placement could provide an additional €16.4 million (US $18.5 million) in gross proceeds if they were to be fully exercised, Nicox said.
