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.