Retina

The European Commission and the European Patent Office (EPO) have named Optos plc as European Inventor of the Year in the SME and Research category.

VIEW 2, a Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of VEGF Trap (afilbercept; Regeneron) versus Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) administered by intravitreal injection for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), has dosed its first patient.

A pilot study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Medidur FA (fluocinolone acetonide; Alimera) with Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) against exudative age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) has begun patient enrolment.

Gene therapy has been used successfully to improve visual function in a patient with a genetic disorder of the retina, Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), as reported in a study published online ahead of print by the New England Journal of Medicine.

VEGF Trap (Regeneron) maintains a significant improvement in the visual acuity of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) patients up to 32 weeks, according to a study presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

Xibrom (bromfenac 0.09 mg ophthalmic solution; ISTA Pharmaceuticals) significantly improves visual acuity outcomes and lowers retreatment rates when administered as an adjuvant to Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients, when compared with Lucentis monotherapy, according to a poster presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

All of the excitement surrounding anti-VEGF therapy has been countered slightly by one major issue: the regular treatment and follow-up regimen associated with the new class of treatments.

The authors undertook a study based on their own patient records to elucidate whether Avastin does have a viable role to play in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma associated with retinal ischaemic disease.

At present, there is no effective early-stage treatment for AMD or for arresting its progression in the early phases.

Besides external magnifying glasses, certain intraocular lenses and devices have been proposed as feasible visual aids for AMD patients.

Providing patients with renewed hope and the chance of halting and maybe even reversing vision loss, the launch of this anti-VEGF therapy has signalled a permanent change in the way this debilitating disorder is treated worldwide.

New treatments have not only caused major shifts in practice patterns but have also presented feasible options for pathologies other than those for which they were initially developed.

Second Sight's "bionic eye" implant, the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, has been implanted into two blind patients at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital by Dr Lyndon da Cruz and team.

Spectral domain, three-dimensional (3-D), high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) represents a step forward in OCT technology, with precise registration, complete data set acquisition, and improved coverage of the retina being the major advantages.

VEGFb, a novel form of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an anti-angiogenic which is cytoprotective for retinal cells, can inhibit choroidal neovascularization significantly, according to preclinical results presented at this year's BIO National Venture Conference, held April 22?23 in Cambridge, US.

Cortiject, Novagali Pharma's investigational treatment for Diabetic Macular Oedema (DME), has successfully been injected into the first patient in its Phase I clinical trial.

Patients with retinal dystrophy experience slower disease progression when treated with the α2 agonist brimonidine, according to a study published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

The FDA has approved an expansion of the Phase III CABERNET (CNV Secondary to AMD Treated with BEta RadiatioN Epiretinal Therapy) trial, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of NeoVista's epiretinal brachytherapy in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The P200C, a retinal imaging device designed for advanced ocular disease, has been launched by Optos plc.

Regeneration of damaged retinal cells with the aid of stem cells may offer hope for the treatment of retinal degeneration conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to a report published by the National Academy of Sciences (Volume 103).

Vitreoretinal Technologies, Inc has begun to enrol and treat diabetic retinopathy patients in the clinical trial for its pharmaceutical treatment Vitreosolve.

Intravitreal medical therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is dominated by the two anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs, ranibizumab and bevacizumab (Lucentis and Avastin, respectively, Genentech).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be a useful indicator for predicting death from stroke or cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online ahead of print by the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

NeoVista Inc?s epiretinal brachytherapy for wet AMD in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) has been shown to improve mean visual acuity (VA) in patients, with adverse events restricted to vitrectomy-related problems and not to radiation toxicity, according to results of a Phase II trial presented at the 31st Annual Macula Society Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, US.

Lucentis (ranibizumab; Novartis) is to be made available to all patients of the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales, according to a report from the BBC. The final appraisal document (FAD) has been published ahead of final guidance, expected in June 2008.