Retina

iSONEP (sonepcizumab), Lpath, Inc's drug candidate for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has been administered to the first patients in its Phase I trial.

QLT091001 (QLT Inc), a synthetic retinoid, has begun a Phase I safety study. The orally administered compound is designed to replace 11-cis-retinal, a part of the retinoid-rhodopsin cycle that is essential for visual function, in Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) sufferers.

Bevacizumab injections can improve vision in patients with diabetic macular oedema, according to study results published in the October 2008 issue of the journal Retina.

Visual acuity (VA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients may vary significantly between measurement sessions, according to study results published in the October 2008 issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.

Combined vitrectomy and phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is safe but should only be recommended in selected patients, according to study results published online ahead of print by Acta Ophthalmologica.

Consuming dark-coloured fruits and vegetables increases the levels of macular pigment (MP) and is associated with improved vision in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) sufferers, according to study results published in the New Straits Times Online on September 22.

VEGF Trap-Eye, Regeneron's treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has demonstrated improved visual acuity (VA) and reduced biological markers of neovascular disease at one year of follow-up, according to final Phase II results presented at this year's Scientific Meeting of the Retina Society, held September 26–28 in Scottsdale, Arizona, US.

NeoVista's epiretinal brachytherapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) increases the visual acuity of eyes treated with bevacizumab (Avastin) at 18 months, according to Phase II study results announced on September 29th at this year's Scientific Meeting of the Retina Society in Scotsdale, Arizona, US.

Red wavelength should not be forgotten, Professor Michael Stur advises.

John Morrow discusses the potential applications of stem cell therapy in retina disease treatment

The UK's medical reimbursement governing body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), is to reimburse Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) jointly with Novartis under a dose-capping scheme, reversing NICE's earlier, much derided, decision not to reimburse the drug.

The discovery of the first gene known to be associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has significant implications for the prevention and treatment of the condition, according to a study published in the October 2, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Intravenous administration of IPLEX, Insmed Inc's rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3 complex, is well-tolerated and efficacious in significantly premature infants, according to Phase I study results announced at this year's European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology meeting, held 20?23 September in Istanbul, Turkey.

iCo-007, the experimental intravitreal injection for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DME), has produced pleasing interim trial results and been approved to progress to the third stage of the Phase I study, according to a statement released by the drug's licence holder, iCo Therapeutics Inc.

The two Phase III trials of Iluvien (fluocinolone acetonide; Alimera Sciences Inc) in diabetic macular oedema (DME) have been assessed for safety and efficacy by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board and are to progress without change.

Visual loss in subjects with diabetic retinopathy (DR) is caused by factors other than the disease, according to study results published in the September issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

NT-501, a Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF)-releasing polymer indicated for the treatment of visual loss in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has been granted a Fast Track designation by the FDA, Neurotech Pharmaceuticals Inc, the compound's manufacturer, has announced.

Markus Schill, PhD and Clemens Wagner, PhD of VRMagic GmbH have received the European VitreoRetinal Society's annual Relja Zivojnovic Award for outstanding contributions to the field of vitreoretinal surgery.

According to a report published in the September 5th issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, two processes in the retina, which in combination contribute to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), can be disrupted by antioxidants.

Neurotech Pharmaceuticals has been granted Fast Track designations by the FDA for NT-501 for the treatment of visual loss in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The implantation of the double intraocular lens (IOL) system (IOL-VIP) can improve best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with low vision due to advanced maculopathy, according to a report published in the September issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Eating oily fish just once a week may cut the risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by half, according to results of the EUREYE study, published in the August 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Avastin (bevacizumab) is effective in the arrest of angiogenesis at several stages, according to a study published online ahead of print by Acta Ophthalmologica.

The UK's medical reimbursement governing body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), is to reimburse Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) jointly with Novartis under a dose-capping scheme, reversing NICE's earlier, much derided, decision not to reimburse the drug.

The Phase II extension study of VEGF Trap-Eye for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has demonstrated extremely favourable results in relation to the primary and key secondary endpoints at the 12-week time point.

The incidence of endophthalmitis is independent of whether prophylactic antibiotics are administered in conjunction with Avastin (bevacizumab) injections, according to results of a study published in the February 2008 issue of Spektrum der Augenheilkunde.

The Phase IIb clinical trial of I-vation TA (Merck & Co), an intravitreal injection incorporating triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DME), has been suspended.

A genetic mutation that is associated with recessive cone-rod dystrophy in dachshunds may play the same role in humans, according to a study in the August 2008 issue of Genome Research.

IBI-20089, a drug candidate for the treatment of cystoid macular oedema (CME), has completed patient enrollment for initial clinical testing, according to the drug's manufacturer, Icon Bioscience Inc (IBI).

Sufferers of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) have a lower concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in the aqueous humour than non-sufferers, according to results of a study published in the August 2008 issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.