Macular Degeneration News and Research

Latest Macular Degeneration News and Research

Schepens Eye Research Institute scientist selected for Otto Schade Prize

Dr. Eli Peli, a senior scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute, has been selected by the Society for Information Display for the Otto Schade Prize. Peli will receive the award at a special presentation at the Society's Awards Banquet on May 24, 2010 in Seattle.

4 May 2010

Acucela to present data on ACU-4429 oral visual cycle modulator for dry AMD at Retina International meeting

Acucela, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing new treatments for blinding eye diseases, announced today that Ryo Kubota, M.D., Ph.D., Acucela's chairman, president and chief executive officer, has been invited to participate in Retina International's annual Scientific & Medical Advisory Board meeting being held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on May 3, 2010.

3 May 2010

Protect eyes from sun's UV rays to decrease risk of eye diseases, disorders

With summer right around the corner, more people will be spending time outdoors and UV protection will be top of mind. Unfortunately, most people think about the protection of their skin, when they should also be considering the safety of their eyes. In fact, according to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) American Eye-Q® survey, only one-third of Americans said UV protection is the most important factor they consider when purchasing sunglasses.

3 May 2010

BioTime acquires ES Cell International

BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of human stem cells and regenerative medicine, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of the Singapore company ES Cell International Pte Ltd.

3 May 2010

Report shows increasing rates of AMD among Asians

The May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, includes a surprising, first report on increasing rates of age-related macular degeneration among Asians, and describes an innovative "bypass" laser surgery that may help many people with central retinal vein occlusion avoid serious vision loss.

3 May 2010

Latinos have higher rates of developing visual impairment than non-Hispanic whites: Researchers

Latinos have higher rates of developing visual impairment, blindness, diabetic eye disease, and cataracts than non-Hispanic whites, researchers found. These are the first estimates of visual impairment and eye disease development in Latinos, the largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States.

3 May 2010

IRIDEX commences commercial shipment of IQ 532 laser systems

IRIDEX Corporation, today announced the commencement of commercial shipment of the IQ 532 laser systems. The IQ 532 is a high-power, 532 nm, dual port multi-purpose laser system for use by ophthalmologists to treat sight-threatening eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma; and for use by otolaryngologists to correct certain types of conductive hearing loss.

30 Apr 2010

REGN reports net loss of $30.5M for first-quarter 2010

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2010. The Company reported a net loss of $30.5 million, or $0.38 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $15.4 million, or $0.19 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2009.

30 Apr 2010

BioTime to acquire Singapore-based company, ES Cell International

BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, today announced that it has agreed to acquire the Singapore-based company ES Cell International Pte Ltd.

30 Apr 2010

DRCR Network study finds new treatment more effective

28 Apr 2010

Better vision ahead for many diabetic retinopathy patients

A nationwide, government-sponsored study finds that people with a common form of diabetic retinopathy can benefit from a medication first developed to combat another potentially blinding disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treating diabetic macular edema (DME) with ranibizumab (Lucentis) eye injections, plus laser treatment if needed, appears to result in better vision than laser treatment alone, according to the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research (DRCR) Network study published today in Ophthalmology online, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy). DME is the main cause of vision loss in people with diabetes mellitus.

27 Apr 2010

Pericytes may use mechanical forces to initiate angiogenesis: Researchers

Pericytes, the contractile cells surrounding capillaries, may use mechanical forces to initiate angiogenesis, the "sprouting" of new blood vessels, according to researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

27 Apr 2010

First patient enrolled in Phase II clinical trial of E10030 for treatment of wet age-related AMD

Ophthotech Corp., a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing ophthalmic therapies for back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its Phase II randomized, controlled clinical trial of E10030, an anti-PDGF aptamer, in combination with Lucentis® for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

26 Apr 2010

Duke University Medical Center installs Veran Medical Technologies' SPiN Drive system

Veran Medical Technologies announced today that it has recently completed its first installation and performed several procedures at Duke University Medical Center with its FDA-cleared SPiN Drive product. The product enables clinicians to navigate deep into the peripheral regions of the lungs to access, biopsy and treat potentially cancerous Solitary Pulmonary Nodules.

26 Apr 2010

Avecia Biotechnology reaches agreement with Pfizer to market Macugen

Avecia Biotechnology, Inc., a leading provider of drug development and manufacturing services for oligonucleotide therapeutics, has reached agreement with Pfizer Inc. regarding the commercial supply of a key component of Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection), marketed in the E.U. by Pfizer for the treatment of wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

26 Apr 2010

Animal studies demonstrate safety profile of ACT's RPE cell therapy for SMD

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced today that it has completed key animal studies in connection with its Phase I multicenter study using embryonic stem cell derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD), for which it filed an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November. The studies demonstrated an excellent safety profile with no safety signals such as tumors or ectopic tissues.

24 Apr 2010

StemCells to initiate second clinical trial of HuCNS-SC human neural stem cells in NCL

StemCells, Inc. announced today that it has submitted a protocol to the FDA for initiation of a second clinical trial of its proprietary HuCNS-SC human neural stem cells in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, which is also often referred to as Batten disease.

22 Apr 2010

Investment report on Sequenom from MicroStockProfit.com

MicroStockProfit.com announces an investment report featuring Sequenom Inc. The report includes financial, comparative and investment analysis, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

20 Apr 2010

XOMA 052 antibody demonstrates potential for treatment of myeloma patients with elevated IL-6 levels

XOMA Ltd., a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced that independent researchers presented results showing that XOMA's antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), XOMA 052, was highly effective in reducing production of a protein that supports the proliferation of cancerous human myeloma cells in vitro.

20 Apr 2010

ThromboGenics microplasmin Phase III program for symptomatic focal VMA meets primary endpoint

ThromboGenics NV, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for eye disease, vascular disease and cancer, announces that its first Phase III trial with microplasmin for the non-surgical treatment of eye disease has met its primary endpoint>Europe, is due to report in the third quarter of 2010.

20 Apr 2010