Dry Eye News and Research

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Dry eye is one of the most common complaints seen by eye doctors, accounting for nearly one fourth of all office visits. Caused by insufficient tear production or excessive tear evaporation, dry eye can be a mild, episodic feeling of discomfort associated with certain circumstances, such as exposure to dry, hot or windy environments; however, it can also be a chronic medical condition that, if left untreated, may lead to increased risk of infection or visual impairment.

Adverse environmental changes present potential health hazards to eyes

Another reason to worry about climate change: Expanding areas of arid land, air pollution, and greater exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation all present potential health hazards to your eyes, according to Sheila West, Ph.D., vice chair for research at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University.

9 Dec 2015

BioLight announces first sale of IOPtiMate system in Portugal

BioLight Life Sciences Investments Ltd., a firm that invests in, manages and commercializes biomedical innovations in ophthalmology and cancer diagnostics, today announced the first sale of the IOPtiMate system to a medical center located in Portugal.

8 Dec 2015

Dompé’s investigational biotech molecule receives orphan drug designation for treatment of neurotrophic keratitis

The Dompé biopharmaceutical company announced today that the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has officially designated recombinant human Nerve Growth Factor (rhNGF) - the investigational biotech molecule developed by Dompé based on research by Nobel Laureate Rita Levi Montalcini - as an orphan drug for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis.

8 Dec 2015

BioLight signs joint financing agreement with two Asia-based venture capital firms

BioLight Life Sciences Investments, a company focused primarily on the discovery, development and commercialization of breakthrough ophthalmic diagnostics and therapeutics, announced today that it has entered into a joint financing agreement (the "Agreement") with two Asia-based venture capital firms (the "New Investors"), pursuant to which BioLight and the New Investors will make a direct equity investment in BioLight's IOPtima Ltd. subsidiary via a private placement.

25 Nov 2015

Allergan signs licensing agreement with Mimetogen to develop, commercialize tavilermide for treatment of dry eye disease

Allergan plc, a leading global pharmaceutical company, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage biotechnology company, to develop and commercialize tavilermide (MIM-D3), a topical formulation of a novel small molecule TrkA agonist for the treatment of dry eye disease.

4 Nov 2015

Allergan completes acquisition of AqueSys

Allergan plc, a leading global pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of AqueSys, Inc. a clinical-stage medical device company focused on developing ocular implants that reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with glaucoma.

19 Oct 2015

Matricellular proteins may be key therapeutic targets for common ocular disorders

A special issue of Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics highlights the latest research on matricellular proteins, which play a critical role in inflammation and blood vessel formation in the eye and therefore making them key targets for new therapies to treat common ocular disorders such as glaucoma, dry eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

23 Sep 2015

UK’s GPs, optometrists confirm link between smoking and loss of vision

Smokey eyes are regarded as sexy, sultry and stunning. But nothing could be further from the truth, according to new research unveiled this National Eye Health Week.

18 Sep 2015

FDA grants Orphan Drug designation to Rigel's Fostamatinib for treatment of patients with ITP

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug designation to Fostamatinib, Rigel's oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor which is currently in Phase 3 clinical studies in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

8 Sep 2015

BioLight Life Sciences Investments reports operational and financial results for Q2 2015

BioLight Life Sciences Investments, a firm that invests in, manages and commercializes biomedical innovations in ophthalmology and cancer diagnostics, today reported operational and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015.

1 Sep 2015

Researchers report significant progress in management of patients with dry eyes

Do you have problems with dry eyes? If so, you're not alone--it's one of the most common reasons for patient visits to eye care professionals. Recent years have seen significant progress in management of patients with dry eyes, according to the September special issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.

28 Aug 2015

FDA, EMA accept filing applications for Boehringer Ingelheim's afatinib to treat patients with advanced SCC of the lung

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced that both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have accepted filing applications for afatinib for the treatment of patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung progressing after treatment with first-line chemotherapy.

26 Aug 2015

Laser eye surgery: a glimpse into the future - An interview with Professor Dan Reinstein

LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) creates a hinged flap with a microkeratome and evaporating corneal tissue under the flap with an excimer laser. However, the concept that refractive error could be corrected by sculpting corneal stromal tissue to change corneal curvature was the brainchild of Jose Ignacio Barraquer Moner in 1948.

9 Aug 2015

Shire acquires Foresight Biotherapeutics for $300 million

Shire plc announced today that it has acquired New York-based, privately held Foresight Biotherapeutics Inc. for $300 million.

3 Aug 2015

Allergan enters into agreement to acquire Oculeve

Allergan plc, a leading global pharmaceutical company, and Oculeve, a development-stage medical device company focused on developing novel treatments for dry eye disease, today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Allergan will acquire Oculeve in an all-cash transaction.

6 Jul 2015

Redwood Pharma signs licensing agreement with Broda Technologies for hydrogel drug delivery technology

Redwood Pharma AB has entered into a licensing agreement with Broda Technologies Co., Ltd., operating in both the US and China, to use the company's proprietary IntelliGel supramolecular hydrogel technology in its lead chronic Dry Eye therapeutic currently under development and other ophthalmic therapies.

3 Jul 2015

BioLight receives CE Mark approval for CellDetect bladder cancer test

BioLight Life Sciences Investments Ltd., a firm that invests in, manages and commercializes biomedical innovations in ophthalmology and cancer diagnostics, announced today that its CellDetect non-invasive test for detecting bladder cancer in urine has obtained CE Marking, enabling the product to be marketed and sold in Europe and other territories.

30 Jun 2015

BioLight expands relationship with Ora to develop TeaRx multi-parameter diagnostic test for DES

BioLight Life Sciences Investments, a firm that invests in, manages and commercializes biomedical innovations in ophthalmology and cancer diagnostics, today announced that it has expanded its relationship with Ora, Inc., a world-leading independent, full-service ophthalmic contract research organization and product development firm, via the signing of a Collaboration Agreement (the "Agreement") pursuant to which the companies will work together to advance the clinical, regulatory and commercial development of BioLight's TeaRx multi-parameter diagnostic test for dry eye syndrome ("DES").

15 Jun 2015

BioLight Life Sciences reports operational and financial results for Q1 2015

1 Jun 2015

Boehringer announces LUX-Lung 8 data that compares efficacy of afatinib, erlotinib in patients with advanced SCC

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced overall survival (OS) results from the LUX-Lung 8 trial (NCT01523587) that directly compared the efficacy and safety of two EGFR-directed treatments, afatinib and erlotinib, in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung, progressing after treatment with first-line chemotherapy. Treatment with afatinib significantly reduced the risk of death by 19%, extending the survival of patients to a median of 7.9 months compared to 6.8 months on erlotinib.