Vision Loss News and Research

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Positive Ellex 2RT data demonstrates efficacy in treatment of early Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Ellex Medical Lasers Limited (ASX:ELX) today announced milestone clinical results for its breakthrough Retinal Regeneration Therapy (Ellex 2RT™) for the treatment of Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

2 May 2011

Avastin, Lucentis are equally effective for age-related macular degeneration treatment

Age-related macular degeneration, a disease that damages the retina and can destroy central vision, affects approximately 1.6 million Americans. For the past five years, there has been active debate over treatment options for AMD patients because ophthalmologists have not had accurate data regarding the true efficacy of the most commonly used medication.

29 Apr 2011

Researchers report Avastin is effective as Lucentis for AMD treatment

Researchers are reporting results from the first year of a two-year clinical trial that Avastin, a drug approved to treat some cancers and that is commonly used off-label to treat age-related macular degeneration, is as effective as the Food and Drug Administration-approved drug Lucentis for the treatment of AMD.

29 Apr 2011

Blood levels of inflammation-controlling protein linked to childrens' risk of developing diabetes

Decreasing blood levels of a protein that helps control inflammation may be a red flag that could help children avoid type 1 diabetes, researchers say.

28 Apr 2011

Ketogenic diet may reverse impaired kidney function in diabetics

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have for the first time determined that the ketogenic diet, a specialized high-fat, low carbohydrate diet, may reverse impaired kidney function in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. They also identified a previously unreported panel of genes associated with diabetes-related kidney failure, whose expression was reversed by the diet. The findings were published in the current issue of PLoS ONE.

21 Apr 2011

Older women with high vitamin D status less likely to have early AMD

Women under the age of 75 with high vitamin D status were less likely to have early age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in adults, a University at Buffalo study has shown. The disease affects approximately 9 percent of Americans aged 40 and older.

12 Apr 2011

Long-term delivery of CNTF slows loss of visual acuity caused by geographic atrophy

A phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of a severe form of age-related macular degeneration called geographic atrophy (GA) has become the first study to show the benefit of a therapy to slow the progression of vision loss for this disease. The results highlight the benefit of the use of a neurotrophic factor to treat GA and provide hope to nearly one million Americans suffering from GA.

8 Apr 2011

Bayer, Regeneron initiate two VEGF Trap-Eye Phase 3 trials in Diabetic Macular Edema

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare announced that they have initiated the first of two Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of VEGF Trap-Eye, an investigational new agent for the treatment of certain eye diseases, in the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema.

8 Apr 2011

A2AAR-selective agonists may prevent permanent vision damage from traumatic optic nerve injury

Scientists want to protect the optic nerve when the eye takes a blow on the battlefield or in a car wreck.

7 Apr 2011

Neurotech’s NT-501 intraocular implant slows progression of vision loss in GA subjects

Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that it was reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that its product candidate NT-501 slowed progression of vision loss in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Phase 2 study.

6 Apr 2011

ActiveSite's ASP-440 plasma kallikrein inhibitor effective in reducing diabetes-induced blood-retinal barrier breakdown

ActiveSite Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today the online publication of a study in the journal Diabetes that describes the effectiveness of its novel plasma kallikrein inhibitor ASP-440 in reducing blood-retinal barrier breakdown in a rodent model of diabetes.

28 Mar 2011

Genentech's Lucentis Phase III trials in DME meets primary endpoints

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today that the second of two Phase III trials evaluating Lucentis in patients with diabetic macular edema met its primary endpoint.

28 Mar 2011

NIH: Diabetic retinopathy leads to vision loss in working-age Americans

Diabetes is often called the "silent killer" because people who have it are often unaware they are affected. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects 26 million people – including children – in the United States. Approximately one-quarter of those people do not know they're living with the disease.

23 Mar 2011

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

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

Scientists receive March of Dimes grant for preterm birth research

With the help of funding from the March of Dimes, scientists will study whether low doses of inhaled carbon monoxide may prevent inflammation that triggers preterm labor, analyze the role genes play in causing preterm delivery, and develop blood tests to help identify women at risk of preterm delivery.

8 Mar 2011

Lux initiates pivotal voclosporin Phase 3 trial in non-infectious uveitis

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. announced today that Lux Biosciences, Inc. has commenced its pivotal Phase 3 trial using voclosporin for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis, a leading cause of vision loss and long-term disability.

25 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

Canadian Cancer Society praises new, enhanced cigarette package warnings

Today, Health Canada released a set of new picture health warnings for cigarette and little cigar packages. The new labels include 16 warnings that will cover 75 per cent of the package front and back, eight additional messages to be printed inside the package (or on an insert), and four toxic emission messages for the side panel.