Ocugen announced Dec. 9 that the US FDA had accepted the company’s investigational new drug (IND) application to initiate a first-in-human Phase I/II trial of its gene therapy candidate for retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Haag-Streit to Focus on Surgical Microscopes in Ophthalmology
Haag-Streit announced that it was focus its business moving forward on ophthalmology—discontinuing its surgical product portfolio in neurosurgery, spine surgery, ENT and plastic-reconstructive surgery.
Kiora Reports KIO-101 is Safe and Tolerable for Dry Eye Disease
Kiora Pharmaceuticals announced topline data from its vehicle-controlled, randomized safety study of KIO-101 eyedrops. The study evaluated 24 healthy subjects and 21 patients diagnosed with ocular surface inflammation, a driver of dry eye disease. The results demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability of KIO-101 as well as statistically significant improvements in conjunctival hyperemia, a key inclusion criterion for the 21 patients …
GenSight Biologics Confirms Sustained Efficacy and Safety of Bilateral Lumevoq Injections at 2-Year Follow-Up of REFLECT Phase 3 Trial
GenSight Biologics reported topline efficacy and safety results at 2 years post-treatment administration in the REFLECT Phase 3 clinical trial with Lumevoq. The results show sustained efficacy and safety for bilateral intravitreal injection of the gene therapy, including better efficacy compared to unilateral injection.
Rayner acquires Omidria to expand surgical offering in USA and Europe
Rayner Surgical Group (‘Rayner’) and Omeros Corporation (‘Omeros’) are delighted to announce the transfer of Omeros’ ophthalmology assets, including OmidriaTM, to Rayner. This will enable the creation of a significant commercial, regulatory and marketing infrastructure in the US, with a broad range of products, including intraocular lenses (IOLs), for cataract surgeons. OmidriaTM has excellent and substantial clinical data supporting the maintenance …
Evoq Technologies LLC Announces Launch of First Smartphone-Based Product for Retinal Health Testing
Evoq Technologies is excited to announce the FDA registration of the first in its family of products based on its proprietary smartphone-based biosensor technology. Dubbed the ‘SmartERG’ Platform, it’s built to test the eye’s retinal health in unique ways. About the science: By flashing a controlled light at the eye, we can evoke an electrical-physiological response from the retina that …
VSY Biotechnology Launches AcrivaUD Trinova Pro C Pupil Adaptive Trifocal IOL in Europe
German company VSY Biotechnology announced Nov. 12 the European commercial launch of its AcrivaUD Trinova Pro C Pupil Adaptive trifocal presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens (PC-IOL). VSY says the lens is the only trifocal IOL with Sinusoidal Vision Technology that combines with pupil adaptive design.
Researchers Find that Prozac Blocks the Inflammation that Leads to Dry AMD
Researchers at the University of Virginia who were looking at the potential of repurposing non-ophthalmic approved drugs for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) found that the antidepressant fluoxetine, commonly known as Prozac, blocks the inflammation that can lead to the blinding condition. An experimental drug called CY-09 has been found to block that inflammatory process by binding …
Santen to Introduce First Plant-Derived Eye Drop Bottle in EMEA to Help Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuel-Based Plastic
Santen unveiled plans to launch the first bio-based plastic eye drop bottle in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. The plastic element of the bottles is made from a sugar cane-derived material called “I’m green Polyethylene.” This uses natural resources while maintaining the structural integrity of traditional plastic thus ensuring the medication is stable and reaches the patient in perfect condition, according to Santen. The bottles were introduced in Japan in June, 2021, followed by EMEA in early 2023. Santen’s efforts toward a …
Alcon Acquires Ivantis for $475 Million, Plus Potential Milestone Payments
Alcon has bolstered its glaucoma surgical device portfolio with the acquisition of Ivantis and its Hydrus Microstent. Alcon, a Switzerland-registered company with US headquarters in Texas, announced Nov. 8 that it would pay $475 million up front, plus potential milestone payments, for Ivantis, of Irvine, California. The transaction is expected to close in Q1-2022.
