Auxano point-of-care indicator system for dry eye syndrome

Auxano Diagnostics, LLC, a subsidiary of Auxano Biomedical, LLC, has announced the application of the company’s breakthrough wound care technology to the treatment of dry eye syndrome (DES) with the Auxano point-of-care indicator system. Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), DES can be a serious condition, which, if left untreated, can damage ocular structures.

Brian Windsor, Ph.D., Chief Technical Officer for Auxano Biomedical, said, “We are excited that the advances of our wound care technology can be applied to the treatment of DES and other ophthalmic diseases. Our point-of-care indicator system has the potential to provide earlier and more accurate guidance to millions of DES sufferers.”

Market Dynamics

Primary ophthalmic disorders associated with inflammation currently affect over 20 million people in the US. The CDC reports that the most prevalent disorders in this category include DES, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). According to Business Insights, the ophthalmic pharmaceutical market registered sales of $13.5 billion in 2008.

A challenge encountered in the treatment and management of ophthalmic care is the identification between acute and chronic inflammatory diseases that lead to visual impairment. Currently, there are no diagnostics focused on inflammatory eye disease, and the primary way to detect inflammation is through purely empirical methods. Misdiagnosis can lead to additional tissue damage and potential blindness.

A solution to proper discernment between inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions would result in early and correct guidance towards the appropriate therapeutic regimen, effective tracking of treatment, enhanced patient satisfaction, and improved outcomes.

Auxano’s system is a rapid point-of-care diagnostic indicator for ophthalmic inflammatory diseases and has the potential to provide for accurate indications of DES within minutes.

New Ophthalmic Focus for Auxano Diagnostics

Auxano Diagnostics has developed a similar point-of-care product for wound care that is based on the efficient and accurate detection of active enzymes in biological samples. This product provides detection of inflammation through targeting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in wound fluids that can be obtained by non-invasive sampling techniques. This MMP indicator is in clinical trials through a partnership with a global technology company with the expectation of a CE mark in December 2009, followed by FDA 510(k) approval.

Auxano’s primary focus is the adaptation, optimization and commercialization of the existing technology for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the eye, in particular, dry eye syndrome. Initial data indicates positive results for detecting physiologically relevant MMP levels in dry eye syndrome.