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Heidelberg Engineering: Enhancing the Patient Journey

Clinical

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Authors

PROF. DAN Z. REINSTEIN, MD, MA(CANTAB), FRCSC, DABO, FRCOPHTH, FEBO
e: dzr@londonvisionclinic.com
Prof. Reinstein practices at the London Vision Clinic and is affiliated with the Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical College, New York, 

In SMILE the anterior-most stromal lamellae remain intact postoperatively. Here, the author discusses the biomechanical advantages of preserving the stronger anterior stroma and the resulting effects on spherical aberration control and optical quality.

Improved optical quality with SMILE

The European Commission provided a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Advanced Therapies, providing an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) classification to OCU400 (Ocugen, Inc.). OCU400 is the first gene therapy from the biotechnology company to move forward into Phase 3 with a broad retinitis pigmentosa (RP) indication.

ATMP classification is given to medicines that allow for innovative opportunities for the treatment of disease, thus accelerating the regulatory review timeline of the new gene therapy. The classification will also allow for further collaboration between Ocugen and the EMA, with the EMA in place for scientific advice and protocol assistance as the company pushes for Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) filing in 2026.

“Receiving ATMP classification is another significant milestone toward bringing OCU400 to the market in Europe,” said Shankar Musunuri, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Ocugen. “This designation makes it possible to stay on track with our clinical and commercial strategy and potentially provide this novel modifier gene therapy candidate to all RP patients in the United States and Europe by 2027.”

Besides the EMA, the FDA has also acknowledged that the Phase 3 trial of OCU400 can suffice for Biologics License Application (BLA) and MAA submissions. Ocugen, Inc. plans to file simultaneously in the US and Europe after completion of the trial.

Currently, the Phase 3 OCU400 trial is undergoing enrollment, and the study has a sample size of 150 participants. Patients 8 years old and older with early through late-stage advancement of RP are being recruited to take part in the study.

“We are encouraged by the EMA’s recognition of OCU400 as the Phase 3 liMeliGhT clinical trial advances,” Huma Qamar, chief medical officer at Ocugen, said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the EMA to address the unmet medical need that remains for nearly 98% of the RP patient population.”

Ocugen Announces Positive Opinion of European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Advance Therapies for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Classification for Modifier Gene Therapy Candidate OCU400 for Retinitis Pigmentosa. News release. Ocugen. Published February 3, 2025. Accessed February 3, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/03/3019337/0/en/Ocugen-Announces-Positive-Opinion-of-European-Medicines-Agency-s-Committee-for-Advanced-Therapies-for-Advanced-Therapy-Medicinal-Product-Classification-for-Modifier-Gene-Therapy-Ca.html

OCU400 is the first gene therapy from the biotechnology company to move forward into Phase 3 with a broad retinitis pigmentosa (RP) indication

Ocugen, Inc. receives European Medicines Agency ATMP designation for new gene therapy OCU400

On 13 January, Teva Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., announced it would partner with Klinge Biopharma GmbH and Formycon AG in commercialising FYB203, Formycon’s biosimilar candidate to aflibercept (Eylea, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.) in designated regions of Europe.

 On 5 February, Formycon announced that Klinge Biopharma had also concluded an exclusive license agreement with Lotus Pharmaceutical.

 This new agreement will enable commercialisation of the product throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Pending regulatory approval, the product will be marketed under the brand name AHZANTIVE.

Under these agreements, Teva will lead the commercialisation effort in designated regions of Europe, excluding Italy, and in Israel. Lotus Pharmaceutical will lead commercialisation in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as within the Special Administrative Region Hong Kong.

Previously, Teva was established as the European commercialisation partner of FYB201, Formycon's biosimilar to ranibizumab (Lucentis). Nicola Mikulcik, hief business officer of Formycon, commented on the expansion of the partnership. “With Teva, we are gaining a strong and proven partner for FYB203 in the major parts of Europe and Israel. Teva is already marketing our FYB201 ranibizumab biosimilar (Ranivisio/Ongavia) in Europe and can synergistically leverage an existing commercial infrastructure and well-established distribution channels in the ophthalmology field,” she said in the press release.

 “We are pleased to build on this trusted and successful collaboration. Particularly noteworthy is Formycon’s first-time responsibility for managing the entire commercial supply chain of the finished product.”

Like its reference product, the biosimilar FYB203 is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent used to treat retinal disease. Chief among those indications is neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), also known as wet AMD.

In November 2024, the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products of Human Use issued a positive recommendation for marketing authorisation of FYB203, under the brand names AHZANTIVE/Baiama. The European Commission is expected to announce a response to the authorisation application in late January 2025.

In June 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the biosimilar FYB203, also known as aflibercept-mrbb. In a press release at that time, the company stated3 that FDA approval was rooted in the company's “comprehensive data package” that included “analytical, pre-clinical, clinical and manufacturing data.” The data showed that FYB203 demonstrated comparable efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity to the reference product in patients with neovascular AMD.

Teva Announces Collaboration to Commercialize Formycon’s Biosimilar Candidate to Eylea® (aflibercept) in major parts of Europe and in Israel. News release. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Published January 13, 2025. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/13/3008103/0/en/Teva-Announces-Collaboration-to-Commercialize-Formycon-s-Biosimilar-Candidate-to-Eylea-aflibercept-in-major-parts-of-Europe-and-in-Israel.html

Lotus Pharmaceutical becomes strategic partner for the commercialization of Formycon’s Eylea® biosimilar FYB203/AHZANTIVE® in the Asia-Pacific Region. News release. Formycon AG. Published February 5, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2025.

Harp M. FDA approves Formycon’s biosimilar to Eylea, aflibercept-mrbb (Ahzantive). Ophthalmology Times. Published July 2, 2024. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/fda-approves-formycon-s-biosimilar-to-eylea-aflibercept-mrbb-ahzantive-

The commercialisation agreements for the biosimilar to aflibercept (Eylea) cover Israel, major parts of Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region

Teva partners with Klinge Biopharma, Lotus Pharmaceutical for commercialisation of Formycon’s FYB203 (biosimilar aflibercept)

Over the last 15 years, biosimilars have become a major feature of the health care landscape. Physicians in many disciplines, particularly oncology and immunology, have embraced biosimilars. However, access to educational resources on these powerful biologics can be inconsistent, and in turn, some ophthalmologists who could benefit from the adoption of biosimilars are left in the dark.

The real-world application of biosimilars was the focus of discussion for Martin Zinkernagel, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland, and Paolo Lanzetta, MD, professor of ophthalmology and chairman of the Department of Medicine-Ophthalmology at the University of Udine in Italy. In their discussion, the experts addressed several common questions, framed around the phase 3 clinical trial for biosimilar SB11 (BYOOVIZ) from Biogen. SB11 is approved in Europe and the United Kingdom. Like the reference product ranibizumab (Lucentis), SB11 is approved for the treatment of retinal disease including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Addressing physicians’ levels of familiarity with biosimilars, Dr Lanzetta attributed much of the variation to regulatory discrepancies. “The uptake of biosimilars varies throughout Europe by country and by product,” he said. “Obviously, variation in the uptake of biosimilars [is] influenced by government involvement, reimbursement issues and tender procurement policies.” Recent survey data have revealed gaps in awareness across Europe and in the United States on the efficacy and safety of biosimilars for retinal diseases, Dr Lanzetta said, especially in terms of “real-world data.”

In a clinical application, Dr Lanzetta said, biosimilars may exhibit minor differences from the reference products, but they aren’t considered to have significant impact on the efficacy or safety profile. Typically, the biosimilar and reference medicine must have the same posology and route of administration, with few exceptions, he added.

Dr Lanzetta also said that in the last 10 years, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the highest number of biosimilars worldwide.

 “And this means, to us physicians, having both the possibility to have experience on their use in terms of safety and evaluating the efficacy after that,” he explained.

One common misconception about biosimilars is that these therapeutics are interchangeable with the idea of generic medicines. But there is a key indicator that biosimilars are unique: the cost. “While generic medicines are marketed at a significantly lower price than name brand ones, why do we not see the same level of cost savings with biosimilars?” Dr Zinkernagel asked.

Dr Lanzetta explained that biosimilars are developed via a rigorous, complex and highly regulated manufacturing process. “Generics are simple chemical medicines or agents, which is not the case for biosimilars and biologics,” he said. “Unlike generics, biologics, and therefore biosimilars as well, are very complex; they’re very difficult to copy. And the development processes are patented and proprietary to the originators.” The proprietary nature of biologic development, he added, is why biosimilars may have differences from their originators.

Prof Zinkernagel and Dr Lanzetta used data from the SB11 phase 3 trial to expand upon the capabilities of biosimilars. Prof Zinkernagel detailed the study: over 700 patients were included in the randomised, double-masked, parallel-group multicentre trial. Over 52 weeks, investigators evaluated the efficacy and the safety profile of this biosimilar SB11 in comparison with monthly ranibizumab for the treatment of nAMD.

“Patients with neovascular AMD were included, [with a] visual acuity range between 20/40 and 20/200,” Prof Zinkernagel said. “[Patients] were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either have the originator or the biosimilar every 4 weeks from baseline up to week 48.”

Primary end-points were change from baseline in best corrected visual acuity at week 8 and change from baseline in central subfield thickness at week 4. The pre-specified secondary efficacy end-points included longer-term assessments of change from baseline in visual acuity, and the proportion of participants who lost fewer than 15 letters or who gained 15 or more letters in visual acuity from baseline at weeks 24 and 52.

“Other secondary end-points included, of course, change from baseline in central subfield thickness and central retinal lesion thickness at week 24, as well as change from baseline in choroidal neovascularisation [CNV] size and proportion of participants with active CNV leakage seen via OCT [optical coherence tomography] at week 24,” Prof Zinkernagel continued. Describing the results, he said, “When you look at the visual acuity improvements, it’s really equivalent. You have equivalence between the originator and the biosimilar, and the same holds true for a decrease in central retinal thickness. So the curves are basically the same, and also the secondary end-points.”

Prof Zinkernagel also spoke about the immunogenicity outcomes of the SB11 trial, as immunogenicity reactions have been a common problem in past assessments of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. Along with detrimental effects to visual acuity, immunogenicity reactions can also lead to vasculitis and vitritis.

“Now, in this trial, the overall cumulative incidence of anti-drug antibodies, antibodies reacting against this specific drug up to week 52, was very low,” Prof Zinkernagel said. “For the SB11 biosimilar, it was 4.2%, and for the originator it was 5.5%. So very, very similar.”

He also noted that most antibodies were non-neutralising, which generally indicates a weak antibody response. “Furthermore, no statistical or clinically relevant differences in the incidence of anti-drug antibodies and neutralising antibodies were observed between treatment groups at any of the time points,” Prof Zinkernagel explained.

Dr Lanzetta highlighted the unique potentialities for anti-VEGF therapies as an area where physicians can consider treating patients with a biosimilar. “You can either switch a patient from the originator, obviously, or you can also consider treating with a biosimilar treatment-naive patients who may benefit…from being treated with that reference agent or originator agent,” he said. When to deploy a biosimilar will depend on many factors, including the locality where a patient is being treated. “Europe has different countries, different health care systems,” Dr Lanzetta said. “You may consider treating with the biosimilar patients who may not be strictly adherent to the cost of therapy and the frequency of treatment because of some cost issues.”

Just as education on biosimilars is vital to practitioners, awareness and education resources for patients are vital, too. “We spend a lot of time with our patients in letting them know that biologics did undergo a very rigorous approval process through studies, efficacy and safety studies,” Dr Lanzetta emphasised. This education is vital to getting patients on board with biosimilars, and it sparks enthusiasm about the potential benefits. “Once they do understand that, I think they will be very prone to receive a biosimilar; [it’s] in their interest and in the interest of the community, the whole community of patients, and in the interest of the health care system,” Dr Lanzetta said.

1. Biosimilars in the EU: information guide for healthcare professionals. European Medicines Agency. Updated December 2, 2019. Accessed October 3, 2023. 

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/leaflet/biosimilars-eu-information-guide-healthcare-professionals_en.pd

Editor’s note: A prior version of this article contained a misspelling of the product name BYOOVIZ. It has been corrected. We regret the error.

How biosimilars expand treatment options for patients with retinal disease

Rajesh Deshmukh, MBBS, FRCS, and colleagues from Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, reported that resident ophthalmologists and consultant ophthalmologists had similar outcomes when performing immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgeries (ISBCS).

The COVID-19 pandemic was an important factor in the increasing popularity of ISBCS. Before the pandemic, the investigators explained, “ISBCS were reserved for complex health needs, paediatric patients, or patients with health anxieties undergoing general anaesthesia. More recently, ISBCS has gained popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions resulted in a backlog of unoperated cataracts worldwide.”

The advantages of performing a patient’s cataracts surgeries simultaneously are faster visual rehabilitation, improved vision-related quality of life, and higher productivity.

 When ISBCS were performed during the pandemic, the risk of spreading the virus was reduced by lower hospital attendance.

The reasons that many surgeons adhered to the standard practice of performing one cataract surgery at a time were concerns about bilateral complications, the inability to adjust intraocular lens power in the second eye, and the lack of established protocols for transitioning to ISBCS,

 Dr. Deshmukh and colleagues explained. The International Society of Bilateral Cataract Surgeons has recently noted an increasing ISBCS acceptance in well-selected cases.

The rationale for the study under discussion is that the experience level of the operating surgeon is a potential factor affecting the outcomes of all ophthalmic procedures, including ISBCS. “Previous studies have shown promising results for ISBCS performed by consultants and senior residents, but these studies had relatively small sample sizes.”

 Given the limited evidence on the impact of surgical experience on ISBCS outcomes, this study provided an opportunity to compare the outcomes of ISBCS performed over 3 years by resident ophthalmologists and consultant ophthalmologists to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the grade of surgeon and ISBCS outcomes, they explained.

In all of the cataract surgeries, phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were performed. The study outcomes were complications, refraction (spherical equivalent (SE) > 0.5 diopter [D] and >1.0 D from the predicted target refraction), and the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) at 3 months postoperatively. Resident ophthalmologists operated on 553 eyes and consultant ophthalmologists 687 eyes.

The investigators reported that the postoperative UDVAs were similar in both groups (

 = 0.26). The intra- and postoperative complications also were comparable between the groups (risk ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.8; 4.2) (

No significant differences were seen in the refractive outcomes between the groups (residents, –0.12 D; interquartile range [IQR], –0.5; –0.25); consultants, –0.25 D; IQR, –0.63; –0.13) (

 = 0.08). There also were no differences found in patients with >1.0 D SE predicted refractive outcome between the groups (6% of residents and 3.9% of consultants (

 = 0.142). The grade of the surgeon, risk of posterior capsular rupture, and predicted refraction were not significant predictors of the postoperative refractive error (SE > 0.5 D).

“Our findings support training in ISBCS of junior surgeons under supervision whilst managing the service needs to address the rising burden of disease. Our study can be used as clear and concise evidence when preparing written information on common themes and patients’ concerns, as recommended by Campbell et al.

 The low complication rate in both groups is heartening and encourages the promoters of ISBCS in the UK. Although the proposed target of achieving <1 D refraction in more than 85% is attained, surgeons should aim to improve their goal of achieving <0.5 D in more eyes undergoing ISBCS by ongoing self-audit.”

The authors advised that the residents need supervised training to minimise the risk of posterior capsular tears.

Deshmukh R, Malik M, Myers S, et al. Outcomes of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgeries (ISBCS) performed by trainees vs consultants: a two-armed cohort study. 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-03739-9

Dickman MM, Spekreijse LS, Winkens B, et al. Immediate sequential bilateral surgery versus delayed sequential bilateral surgery for cataracts. 

Nowrouzi A, Alió JL. Immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery. 

Alió JL, Nowrouzi A. Immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sandhu S, Liu D, Mathura P, Palakkamanil M, et al. Immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) adapted protocol during COVID-19. 

Obuchowska I, Micun Z, Młynarczyk M, Dmuchowska DA, Konopińska J. Pros and cons of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery from a patient perspective: a survey. 

You E, Hébert M, Arsenault R, Légaré M-È, Mercier M. Perception of Canadian ophthalmologists on immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery: insights and implications. 

Lundström M, Kugelberg M, Zetterberg M, et al. Ten-year trends of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) as reflected in the Swedish National Cataract Register. 

Arshinoff S, Claoue C, Johansson B, et al. Immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS): global history and methodology, 1st ed. New York: Elsevier; 2022. Available at: 

https://shop.elsevier.com/books/immediately-sequential-bilateral-cataract-surgery-isbcs/arshinoff/978-0-323-95309-2

Wang H, Ramjiani V, Auger G, Raynor M, Currie Z, Tan J. Practice of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS): A teaching hospital experience in United Kingdom. 

Chen TA, Chen SP, Ahmad TR, Pasricha ND, Parikh N, Ramanathan S. Resident-performed immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Campbell CG, La CJ, Chan KL, Turnbull AMJ. Patient satisfaction and attitudes towards immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery. 

A new study compared results to determine a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the grade of surgeon and ISBCS outcomes

Resident and consultant ophthalmologists compare immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery successes

From 13-14 June, Heidelberg Engineering will hold its 21st International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS) in its eponymous hometown of Heidelberg, Germany. The event will be the first ISS held in the newly-opened Heidelberg Congress Center. Following the conclusion of the first day’s scientific programme, attendees may board one of two river boats for a cruise down the Neckar, which promises scenic views of historic Heidelberg.

The Queen Silvia will offer a seated dinner cruise, and a smaller boat alongside will offer food, drinks and music.

Both days of the meeting will feature welcome messages from course director Frank Holz, MD, FEBO, FARVO. Holz is professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at University of Bonn, Germany. During the ISS, he will serve as co-chair for two sessions, and will present his own lecture, sharing results from the MACUSTAR study demonstrating imaging-based progression markers in intermediate AMD.

Below, find the schedule of topics, including programme chairs, for the ISS.

 For more information about the ISS, including information on digital poster presentations, tours of the SkyLabs tower and registration, access the 

Welcome address from course director Professor Frank G. Holz

Chaired by SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO, and Giovanni Staurenghi, MD, FARVO, FEBO

Lecture topics will include mechanistic and biomarker discovery, unlocking systemic insights with multimodal retinal imaging in the NICOLA study, approaching neurodegeneration with a focus on corneal imaging, and more.

Chaired by Balwantray Chauhan, PhD, and Leopold Schmetterer, MSc, PhD

Lectures will address many challenges and opportunities in optical coherence tomography (OCT), including high-res OCT of atrophic and precursor lesions in AMD, unveiling new insights in diabetic maculopathy with high-res OCT, first reactions to a new high-res imaging platform.

Chaired by Prof Holz and Adnan Tufail, MBBS, MD, FRCOphth

Topics in this session include holographic OCT for retinal function, in vivo functional imaging of singular retinal ganglion cells with two-photon imaging, use of fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) to study silent disease progression in Alzheimer, Parkinson and MS and other topics.

Chaired by Karl Csaky, MD, PhD, and Robert P. Finger, MD, PhD

Multiple presentations using the MACUSTAR data to better understand retinal function and structure, using OCT-determined anatomical features as clinical trial endpoints, and more

From 17:45 to 18:30, two team members from NASA, the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will deliver the keynote address, “A journey into space: Völlig losgelöst!”

Warren “Woody” Hoburg reported for duty as part of the NASA astronaut class of 2017. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. At the time of his selection for the astronaut programme, he was an assistant professor at MIT. Astronaut Hoburg launched to the International Space Station as Pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission in March 2, 2023 and has logged a total of 186 days in space on his first flight.

Tyson J. Brunstetter, MBA, OD, PhD, FAAO, FAsMA, is a US Navy aerospace optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He earned his OD, MS and PhD from the Ohio State University.

 He the clinical lead for NASA’s research into spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a condition which is common among astronauts, especially during long-duration missions.

Follow along with all of our ISS coverage

Welcome note from course director Professor Frank G. Holz

Chaired by Roberto Gallego Pinazo, MD, PhD, and Seung-Young Yu, MD, PhD

Presentations in the artificial intelligence (AI) session will address use of AI in FLIO (including findings from the AI-READI project), AI-based evaluation of dry AMD biomarkers and fluid monitoring in nAMD and GA.

Chaired by Anat Loewenstein, MD, and Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, MD

Topics will include pearls for avoiding misdiagnosis when encountering hyperreflective vitreous opacities in children, OCT and OCT-A in patients with sickle cell retinopathy, OCT-based outcome measures in paediatric gene therapy, and more.

Chaired by Prof Holz and James Talks, MA, MB Bchir, MRCP, FRCOphth

Topics in the final session include remote patient monitoring, the continued relevance of multimodal imaging, extreme telemedicine during long-duration space travel and closing the “gaps” between hospitals and communities with retinal imaging.


1. International SPECTRALIS Symposium June 13-14 in Heidelberg. Heidelberg Engineering Academy. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://academy.heidelbergengineering.com/course/view.php?id=1246

2. International SPECTRALIS Symposium and Beyond: Our Best Program. Heidelberg Engineering Academy. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://www.academy.heidelbergengineering.com/hedata/e-learning/Totara/Dateien/ScientificProgram_ISS2025_Heidelberg.pdf

3. Warren Hoburg, NASA Astronaut. NASA. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://www.nasa.gov/people/warren-hoburg/

4. Bio: Tyson J. Brunstetter. United Mitochondrial Diseased Mar Foundation. Published March 2022. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://www.umdf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022MitoMedBrunstetterBio.pdf 

More than 35 lectures across seven topics, plus a keynote address, will be featured during the meeting

Full list of topics at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium in Heidelberg, Germany

Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium

During the second weekend of June, Heidelberg Engineering will open its new Heidelberg Congress Center for the 21st International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS). The meeting in Heidelberg, Germany, begins on Friday, 13 June with a scientific programme including topics like oculomics, age-related macular degeneration and distributed care models.

Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with 

 about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma." During his lecture, Prof Malik demonstrated the potential of corneal confocal microscopy as an effective diagnostic tool for patients with markers of neurodegenerative disease.

In the first of two video interviews, Prof Malik explained why the cornea is a particularly viable source of biomarkers and described the unique anatomical features of the anterior segment which are the focus of his research. Watch the full video to hear what he shared at the ISS.

Prof Malik shared his presentation, titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases:
Challenging the dogma," at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium 

Prof. Dan Z. Reinstein

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