Age Related Macular Degeneration News and Research

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Eating fish protects from blindness: Study

According to latest study fish that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids significantly lowers the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration that leads to blindness. The study was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.

17 Mar 2011

Eating fatty fish reduces blindness risk from AMD: Study

New research has shown that consuming omega-3 fatty acids that are most commonly found in oily fish such as tinned salmon and tuna, could prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that leads to the gradual loss of vision. The required amount may be as low as one to two portions of fish a week that can reduce the risk of sight loss by up to 42 per cent in older women, according to a new study. Earlier results have shown similar benefits in men. Omega 3, whose common form in food is Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can also be taken as a supplement.

16 Mar 2011

ACT receives patent for its single-blastomere technology

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it has been issued a patent on its "single-blastomere" technique. Patent Number 7,893,315 broadly covers ACT's proprietary single-blastomere technology that provides a non-destructive alternative for deriving human embryonic stem cell lines.

23 Feb 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

Early diagnosis can delay or halt progression of macular degeneration

February is Age-related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision Awareness month, providing an opportunity to inform and educate the public on the leading cause of vision loss for adults over the age of 65. Today, over 15 million of these adults suffer from age-related macular degeneration, a number that is expected to grow considerably as the baby boomer generation begins heading into retirement age. While the risks are growing, awareness and education is key to treating and saving the eyesight of millions.

19 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

Alexion fourth quarter net product sales of Soliris increases to $156.0 million

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. For the three months ended December 31, 2010, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported net product sales of Soliris® (eculizumab) of $156.0 million, reflecting strong additions of new patients, compared to $110.6 million for the same period in 2009.

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

Researchers discover molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy

A team of researchers, led by University of Kentucky ophthalmologist Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, has discovered a molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy, the major cause of untreatable blindness in the industrialized world.

6 Feb 2011

Alexion announces acquisition of Taligen Therapeutics

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, announced that it has acquired Taligen Therapeutics, a privately held development-stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Mass.

31 Jan 2011

Regeneron, Bayer and SERI initiate new VEGF Trap-Eye Phase 3 clinical trial in myopic CNV

Regeneron and Bayer HealthCare announced initiation of a new Phase 3 clinical trial in collaboration with the Singapore Eye Research Institute investigating the efficacy and safety of VEGF Trap-Eye (aflibercept ophthalmic solution) in patients with choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) of the retina as a result of pathologic myopia.

18 Jan 2011

VisionCare announces closing of $31 million Series E financing

VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc., a developer of advanced visual prosthetic devices designed to improve vision in patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), announced today it has closed a Series E financing totaling $31 million.

10 Jan 2011

Alkeus and Columbia University enter license agreement for potential therapies for dry-AMD, Stargardt disease

Alkeus Pharmaceuticals and Columbia University announced today that they have entered into a license agreement for a set of potential therapies for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry-AMD), Stargardt disease, and other degenerative diseases of the eye. Left untreated, these conditions often lead to impaired vision and even blindness.

5 Jan 2011

PanOptica completes $30 million Series A financing

PanOptica, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company focused on licensing and developing innovative ophthalmology therapies, today announced that it has raised $30 million in a Series A financing. This round was led by SV Life Sciences and Third Rock Ventures.

4 Jan 2011

FDA clears ACT's IND to treat AMD using hESC derived RPE cells

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application to treat Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

3 Jan 2011

NEI awards Case Western Reserve $10M for study of retinal diseases

The Departments of Pharmacology and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have been awarded a $10.1 million grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to research and develop new treatments for diseases of the retina, a leading cause of blindness.

29 Dec 2010

Positive top-line results from VEGF Trap-Eye Phase 3 studies in macular edema due to CRVO

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare announced positive top-line results for VEGF Trap-Eye (aflibercept ophthalmic solution) in the COPERNICUS study, which is led by Regeneron, the first of two Phase 3 studies in patients with macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

20 Dec 2010

Adeona expands and enhances zinc-based product candidate portfolio

Adeona Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a developer of innovative medicines for serious central nervous system diseases, announced today that it has acquired access to clinical data supporting a zinc-based therapy for the prevention of infections in the elderly. This acquisition expands and enhances Adeona's zinc-based product candidate portfolio that already includes its proprietary zinc-based tablets for use in the dietary management of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment patients, and age-related macular degeneration.

16 Dec 2010

Survey reveals 40% of consumers prefer to purchase vision care services during weekends, evenings

An independent, national survey reveals 40 percent of consumers prefer to shop for and purchase vision correction services during evenings or weekends.

15 Dec 2010