Eyeworld Weekly Update

 SEARCH
Volume 17, Number 9
27 March 2012



ThromboGenics inks deal with Alcon for ocriplasmin
ThromboGenics (Brussels, Belgium) has entered into an agreement with Alcon (Fort Worth, Texas, USA) to commercialize ocriplasmin in all markets outside the U.S. ThromboGenics will concentrate on commercializing ocriplasmin in the U.S., where the company anticipates a launch within the next 12 months. ThromboGenics completed two phase III studies confirming the role of ocriplasmin in treating symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion.
Under the terms of the agreement with Alcon, ThromboGenics will receive an upfront payment of €75 million. ThromboGenics is entitled to a further €90 million in potential near-term milestone payments, bringing the total deal to €375 million.


NicOx buys into Altacor
A phase III trial evaluating OMS302 (ketorolac/phenylephrine) in patients undergoing lens replacement surgery met its endpoints, developer Omeros (Seattle, Wash., USA) said in a news release. OMS302 met its primary endpoint by demonstrating statistically significant (p<0.00001) maintenance of intraoperative mydriasis, the company said. It was also statistically superior to placebo in reduction of pain in the early post-op period, the company added.
The phase III study enrolled 405 patients randomized 1:1 to receive either OMS302 or placebo. The most common adverse events were those related to surgery, specifically eye pain, eye inflammation, headache, and increased intraocular pressure. The incidence of these adverse events was similar between OMS302- and placebo-treated patients. OMS302 is added to standard irrigation solution used in lens replacement surgery and delivered intracamerally to maintain intraoperative mydriasis (pupil dilation), to prevent surgically induced miosis (pupil constriction), and to reduce post-op pain and irritation, Omeros said.


Ophthalmic drug market to reach US$18.7 billion
A new report predicts the worldwide market for ophthalmic drugs will reach US$18.7 billion this year, according to publisher Visiongain (London, England, UK). Visiongain's study predicts that the world market for eye drugs will grow strongly from 2012 to 2022. This growth will be stimulated by the increasing prevalence of eye disorders among aging populations worldwide, Visiongain said in a press release. Sustained-release ocular implants, gene therapy, and RNA interference technology will influence R&D in ophthalmology, as will neuroprotective agents for glaucoma. Many commercial opportunities for ophthalmic drugs exist, with high revenues possible this decade.


Edinburgh BioQuarter launches i2eye Diagnostics
Edinburgh BioQuarter (Edinburgh, Scotland) has launched i2eye Diagnostics Limited, a company that will deliver the world's first visual field analyzer for patient groups whose visual field was previously impossible to test, including young children and vulnerable adults, the company said in a press release.
The technology behind the i2eye visual field analyzer was developed over 5 years by a clinical research team at the University of Edinburgh consisting of ophthalmologists, neurologists, and medical physicists, Edinburgh BioQuarter said. The technology, SVOP (saccadic vector optokinetic perimetry), harnesses patients' natural reactions to movement and light to analyze their visual field without any need for them to keep still, understand the test, or give feedback to the tester.


AAO recommends genetic testing
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (San Francisco, Calif., USA) recommended genetic testing in patients with clinical findings of a mendelian disorder, the group said in a news release. The AAO also recommends using Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendment-approved labs for all testing, providing a copy of the results to the patient, avoiding direct-to-consumer genetic testing, discouraging patients from obtaining such tests themselves, avoiding unnecessary parallel testing, avoiding routine genetic testing for complex disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and late-onset primary open-angle glaucoma, and avoiding testing asymptomatic minors with untreatable disorders.


Americans realize value of eye exams, cite time limitations
According to a survey from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (St. Louis, Mo., USA), one in five Americans delayed their annual eye exam because they were too busy, even though 89% recognize that managing vision health now can ensure fewer concerns in the future.
Almost half the people surveyed (49%) said they felt overwhelmed by daily "to do" lists, and the same percentage wish health professionals were available to help with keeping their health "on track", the survey found. More than half (52%) wish it were easier to make vision care a priority, the insurance company said.
The online survey polled 2,500 American adults at least 18 years of age.


AAO wants to increase awareness of AMD
In recognition of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (San Francisco, Calif., USA) wants to increase awareness and inform the public about the latest clinical advances to treat the retinal disorder. In dry AMD, AAO cited sustained delivery implants and the Second Sight (Sylmar, Calif., USA) prosthesis as two "exciting new approaches". In neovascular AMD, AAO cited intravitreal injections (including ranibizumab and bevacizumab) and the injectable Eylea (aflibercept, Bayer HealthCare, Berlin, Germany). AAO also discussed the results to date from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) suggesting that dietary supplements may help offset AMD; results of AREDS2 are expected next year.


FDA clears Femto LDV Z models
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted regulatory clearance for the Femto LDV Z models, developer Ziemer Ophthalmic (Port, Switzerland) said in a news release. The Femto LDV models Z2, Z4, and Z6 are designed for "a broad variety of procedures in ocular surgery", the company said. The Z6 is approved for the creation of corneal incisions in patients undergoing LASIK surgery, tunnel creation for the implantation of intracorneal rings, and pocket creation for the implantation of corneal implants (in countries where the implants are approved). The Z6 can also perform lamellar and penetrating keratoplasty, Ziemer said. Cataract procedures with these models are not approved in any country, the company added.
The models were launched globally earlier this month.


RESEARCH BRIEFS
  • Surgeons can successfully treat endophthalmitis in phakic patients while preserving the uninvolved crystalline lens. In a non-comparative consecutive cases series study, Justin Townsend, MD, and fellow researchers looked at 12 phakic eyes of 11 patients that developed culture-proven endophthalmitis between January 1995 and June 2009 and who were treated without removal of the crystalline lens. Pars plana vitrectomy and injection of intravitreal antimicrobials was performed in seven eyes, and vitreous tap and injection of antimicrobials was performed in five eyes. Nine eyes achieved visual acuity = 20/80 (6/24). Lenses opacified in all 12 eyes, and five eyes underwent cataract surgery with posterior chamber IOL placement. The study is published in Clinical Ophthalmology.
  • While assessing corneal wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to correct hyperopia after radial keratotomy (RK), Ramon C. Ghanem, MD, and colleagues found corneal wavefront-guided PRK with intraoperative mitomycin-C (MMC) for hyperopia after RK significantly improved uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and higher-order corneal aberrations with a low incidence of visually significant corneal haze. Of the 61 eyes studied, patients averaged 18.8 years between initial RK and follow-up PRK. Before PRK, the mean spherical equivalent was +4.17±1.97 D, mean astigmatism was -1.39±1.04 D, and the mean CDVA was 0.137±1.37. At 24 months, the mean values were 0.14±0.99 D (p<0.001), -1.19±1.02 D (p=0.627), and 0.072±0.094 (p<0.001), respectively. UDVA was 20/25 (6/7.5) or better in 37.7% of eyes and 20/40 (6/12) or better in 68.9% of eyes. The CDVA improved by one or more lines in 62.3% of eyes, and 30 eyes (49.2%) were within ±0.50 D of intended SE. The study is published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
  • Stephen S. Lane, MD, and fellow investigators found that the LipiFlow System (TearScience, Morrisville, NC, USA) was significantly more effective than the iHeat Warm Compress (Advanced Vision Research, Woburn, Mass., USA) in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye symptoms. In a study of 139 randomized subjects, 69 participants used LipiFlow and 70 participants used the iHeat WC as a crossover control group. LipiFlow resulted in significant improvement in meibomian gland secretion at 2 and 4 weeks and tear film breakup time at 2 and 4 weeks. The control group did not exhibit any significant change in either parameter. This study is published in Cornea.
NEW PRODUCT BRIEFS
  • Vistakon (Jacksonville, Fla., USA) produced an educational brochure, Eye Health and Allergies, for free distribution to eyecare professionals. The brochure attempts to help ocular allergy sufferers to better understand their condition and potential treatments, the company said.
  • Volk Optical (Mentor, Ohio) will launch its newest surgical gonio lens at the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) meeting next month. The Autoclavable Surgical Gonio Lens "delivers clear direct views of the chamber angle structures, for goniotomy and other surgical gonio procedures", Volk said. It was developed to withstand the "rigors of steam sterilization without lens and image degradation".
  • Topcon (Santa Clara, Calif., USA) has introduced a new 577 nm Pattern Scanning Laser, the company announced in an email blast. The new Streamline 577 has been updated to include 2000 mW, designed to "provide easy access to a multitude of pattern variations to suit almost any clinical need", the company said.


Licensed Publications		      Licensed through ASCRS American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 4000 Legato Road, Suite 700, Fairfax, VA 22033-4003, USA.
All rights reserved. The ideas and opinions expressed in EyeWorld Asia-Pacific Weekly News do not necessarily reflect those of the ASCRS�ASOA or APACRS. Mention of products or services does not constitute an endorsement by the ASCRS�ASOA or APACRS.
Copyright 2008, EyeWorld News Service, a division of ASCRS Media.