Blindness News and Research

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New self-monitoring blood glucose sensor uses tear fluid as sample

People with diabetes could be helped by a new type of self-monitoring blood glucose sensor being developed by Arizona State University engineers and clinicians at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

16 Mar 2011

ACT's hESC-derived RPE cells receive EMA positive opinion for Orphan Drug Designation for Stargardt's disease

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has announced a positive opinion of ACT's human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells for designation as an orphan medicinal product for the treatment of Stargardt's disease.

11 Mar 2011

Genentech announces positive outcomes from Lucentis Phase III trial against DME

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that two-year results from a pivotal Phase III trial showed patients with diabetic macular edema who received Lucentis experienced rapid and sustained improvement in vision compared to those who received a placebo injection.

11 Mar 2011

Study reveals flexibility of neuronal processes underlying conscious perception

Our brains process many more stimuli than we become aware of. Often images enter our brain without being noticed: visual information is being processed, but does not reach consciousness, that is, we do not have an impression of it. Then, what is the difference between conscious and unconscious perception, and can both forms of perception be changed through practice?

10 Mar 2011

Merck to present VICTRELIS phase III study data against HCV at EASL annual meeting

Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced that several new data analyses from Phase III studies of VICTRELIS, its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor, will be presented at The International Liver CongressTM / 46th European Association for the Study of the Liver annual meeting.

9 Mar 2011

Anacor and iOWH establish research agreement to identify new drugs for shigellosis

Anacor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ANAC) and the Institute for OneWorld Health (iOWH) today announced the establishment of a joint research agreement to discover antibacterial compounds for treating shigellosis.

8 Mar 2011

Aerie Pharmaceuticals closes $30 million Series B financing

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of medical innovations in ophthalmology, today announced the closing of a $30 million Series B financing.

7 Mar 2011

NEI/FDA conference to analyze functional vision outcomes from clinical trials of visual prostheses

The National Eye Institute and Food and Drug Administration are sponsoring a conference to determine how functional vision-related endpoints for clinical trials of visual prostheses will be analyzed and correlated with objective measures of visual acuity, visual fields and contrast sensitivity.

2 Mar 2011

Research uncovers new details about protein interactions in retina

Science fiction novelist and scholar Issac Asimov once said, "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny.' " This recently rang true for an international team of researchers when they observed something they did not expect.

1 Mar 2011

Regeneron submits VEGF Trap-Eye BLA to FDA for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the company submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), the goal for a standard review time from submission to FDA action is ten months.

22 Feb 2011

New community partnership launched to provide free vision care services for Akron-area children

Davis Vision, Prevent Blindness Ohio and Summa Hospital's Ophthalmology Department have launched an ongoing community partnership to provide needy Akron-area children with free vision care services.

22 Feb 2011

Statin drug may help prevent blindness in diabetics

New University of Georgia research has found that a statin drug that is often known by the brand-name Lipitor may help prevent blindness in people with diabetes.

17 Feb 2011

Inexpensive drug therapy shows promise in treating premature infants with childhood blindness

A readily available, inexpensive drug therapy showed a significant benefit in treating premature infants with the worst and historically most difficult-to-treat cases of retinopathy of prematurity.

17 Feb 2011

Vical announces issuance of U.S. Patent for cytomegalovirus vaccines

Vical Incorporated announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,888,112 covering DNA vaccines for cytomegalovirus containing specific gene sequences and formulated with Vical's Vaxfectin adjuvant.

16 Feb 2011

Raptor reopens enrollment in DR Cysteamine Phase 3 trial to treat patients with nephropathic cystinosis

Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp., today announced it has reopened enrollment in its Phase 3 clinical trial of its proprietary delayed-release oral formulation of cysteamine bitartrate in patients with nephropathic cystinosis.

15 Feb 2011

International agriculture conference highlights need to connect health, agriculture

Participants at the recent three-day International Conference on Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health in New Delhi, India, highlighted the broken links between health and agriculture, IRIN reports (2/14).

15 Feb 2011

Phase III RISE study of Lucentis for DME meets primary endpoint

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, announced today that one of two Phase III studies evaluating monthly Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), met its primary endpoint. DME is a serious complication of diabetes that affects up to 10 percent of people with the disease and can lead to blurred vision, severe vision loss and blindness.

14 Feb 2011

Study explores levels of burden and depression in caregivers with sensory impairment

When a person experiences impairment or declining health, caregiving typically falls to a family member, most often a spouse. This increased burden can cause burnout, stress, and illness in the caregiver. The health care system focuses first on the client and provides little support for the caregiver.

14 Feb 2011

EMA grants QLT positive opinions for Orphan Drug Designation of QLT091001 to treat inherited blindness

QLT Inc. today announced that QLT091001, an oral synthetic retinoid, has received positive opinions for two distinct Orphan Drug Designations by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) for the treatment of the inherited retinal degenerative diseases, Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

10 Feb 2011

New insight into AMD related blindness

more than 50 million worldwideA new study in the journal Nature has reported the pathology of blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration or AMD. This condition affects more than 50 million worldwide and is incurable. The researchers report that when an enzyme known as DICER1 stops functioning AMD starts to develop.

8 Feb 2011