Eye Disease News and Research

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Eye diseases are widespread around the globe. According to the World Health Organization, the most important three eye diseases or conditions that are a potential threat to the global population are diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. One more vital reason for visual harm is refractive errors. Some of the important reasons for vision loss or low vision are age, healthcare, gender, genetic problems and the prevalence of family history.

Positive top-line results from ILUVIEN Phase 3 trial in patients with DME

pSivida Corp., a leader in developing sustained release, drug delivery products for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, including the investigational drug ILUVIEN for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema, today announced month 36, top-line readout results for the FAME Study prepared by its licensee, Alimera Sciences.

4 Feb 2011

Promising results from TheraTears Nutrition pilot trial in dry eye patients

Advanced Vision Research, Inc. today announced the publication in the journal Cornea of promising results from a pilot trial of dry eye patients taking TheraTears® Nutrition. The study demonstrated a reduction in dry eye symptoms and an increase in tear volume and tear flow for those patients taking TheraTears® Nutrition, an optimized blend of medical grade essential omega-3 oils, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and flaxseed oil.

25 Jan 2011

OXiGENE reaches agreement with warrant holders for warrant exchange

OXiGENE, Inc., a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, has entered into separate Warrant Exchange Agreements with each of the holders of outstanding warrants originally issued in March 2010 to eliminate all of such warrants having "ratchet" price-based anti-dilution protection features in exchange for shares of Company common stock and a lower number of warrants having no price based anti-dilution protections.

19 Jan 2011

Surge in cataract surgeries fuels intraocular lens market to almost $1.4 billion

According to two new reports by iData Research, the leading global authority in medical device and pharmaceutical market research, growth in the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the detection of ocular conditions will drive the U.S. diagnostic ophthalmic market to over $650 million by 2017.

12 Jan 2011

Nutriceuticals may restore age-related vision loss

While age-related vision loss of catastrophic proportions is predicted in coming decades, rising from 17 million patients today to 55 million by the year 2050, it's possible this catastrophe could be averted and lost vision even restored using molecular medicine.

11 Jan 2011

Ifa Systems acquires inoveon

ifa Systems AG, the global leader for IT solutions in ophthalmology based in Cologne, Germany, announced the acquisition of inoveon Corporation, proven experts in detection, staging, and monitoring of diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.

10 Jan 2011

Researchers develop new hand-held instrument for glaucoma screening

A new hand-held instrument involving a system of micro-force sensors, specially designed microchips, and math-based programmed procedures has been designed by researchers at the UA College of Engineering. The easy-to-use probe gently rubs the eyelid and can be used at home, threatening to replace painful eye drops and the need for a sterilized sensor.

5 Jan 2011

Get examined during Glaucoma Awareness Month

It happens slowly. Over time, a person's vision will get worse. Until one day, that person can no longer see. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States and worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no cure. Once a person's vision is lost, it cannot be regained. That is why Dr. Bizer's VisionWorld is encouraging people to get an examination during Glaucoma Awareness Month.

5 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

Alimera receives FDA CRL for ILUVIEN NDA

pSivida Corp., a leader in developing sustained release, drug delivery products for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, including the investigational drug ILUVIEN® for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), today announced that Alimera Sciences, Inc, pSivida's collaborative partner, received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its New Drug Application (NDA) for ILUVIEN. The FDA issued the CRL to communicate its decision that the NDA cannot be approved in its present form.

24 Dec 2010

Alcon board approves merger agreement with Novartis

Alcon, Inc. announced today that its board of directors approved a merger agreement with Novartis AG, whereby Novartis will pay a total merger consideration valued at $168 per share for the Alcon shares it does not currently own. Under the terms of the deal, the merger consideration will be comprised of a combination of Novartis shares and, if necessary, a cash contingent value amount to result in a total value of $168 per share.

15 Dec 2010

Santen launches DIQUAS Ophthalmic Solution in Japan

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that DIQUAS Ophthalmic Solution 3% (diquafosol tetrasodium) received pricing approval and was launched for sale today in Japan by its partner, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Inspire will receive a related milestone payment of $1.25 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and is also entitled to receive payments based upon a tiered royalty rate on net sales of DIQUAS in Japan, with a minimum rate in the high single digits and a maximum rate in the low double digits.

From Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 13 Dec 2010

Blocking growth of blood vessels with antibodies could improve treatment of cancerous tumors

A novel strategy of blocking the growth of blood vessels with antibodies should result in improved treatment of cancerous tumors.

10 Dec 2010

Cephalon, Mesoblast to develop, commercialize novel adult MPC therapeutics

Cephalon, Inc. and Mesoblast Limited, today announced they have entered into a strategic alliance to develop and commercialize novel adult Mesenchymal Precursor Stem Cell therapeutics for degenerative conditions of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

8 Dec 2010

Type 2 diabetics who consume alcohol at increased risk for blurry vision

A new study published in the journal Diabetic Medicine reveals that among patients with type 2 diabetes, alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of deterioration of visual acuity.

2 Dec 2010

Research may lead to new treatment strategies for Graves' disease

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified a compound that prevents overproduction of thyroid hormone, a finding that brings scientists one step closer to improving treatment for Graves' disease.

2 Dec 2010

NIH expands genetic and clinical research database to provide access to digital study images

The National Institutes of Health has expanded a genetic and clinical research database to give researchers access to the first digital study images.

24 Nov 2010

Stem cell trial for eye disease receives FDA approval

The second clinical trial involving stem cells from human embryonic cells has received the go-ahead. The news came from Advanced Cell Technology Inc. this Monday. The company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the way for its Phase I/II trial of retinal cells for patients with Stargardt’s macular dystrophy, a childhood version of macular degeneration.

22 Nov 2010

FDA grants ACT clearance for Phase I/II clinical trial of hESC derived retinal cells in patients with SMD

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application to immediately initiate a Phase I/II multicenter clinical trial using retinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD), one of the most common forms of juvenile macular degeneration in the world. The decision removes the clinical hold that the FDA had placed on the trial.

22 Nov 2010

Mimetogen initiates MIM-D3 Phase II clinical trial for dry eye disease

Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel small molecule compounds that mimic the effects of neurotrophins, today announced that it has initiated the first human clinical trial evaluating MIM-D3, a mimetic of nerve growth factor (NGF), in a Phase II clinical trial in patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease. MIM-D3 is a small cyclic peptidomimetic of NGF, a naturally occurring protein in the eye that is responsible for the maintenance of corneal nerves and epithelium, mucin and tear production.

22 Nov 2010