Pharmacy

Fort Worth, TX-The FDA will allow Alcon to add the words "Lasting Comfort" and new rinsing instructions to its Opti-Free Express multi-purpose disinfecting solution label.

A 42-year-old Hispanic male presented complaining of decreased vision in his left eye. He noted that his vision in that eye had decreased suddenly three weeks earlier. The patient had low hyperopia. His medical, surgical, and family histories were unremarkable. He was using no medications and had no known drug allergies. Although he initially reported no significant social history, after more extensive questioning he admitted to the occasional inhalational use of cocaine. His most recent use was on the day prior to the onset of his visual disturbance.

Rockville Centre, NY-Implantation of a posterior chamber phakic refractive lens (PRL) (Medennium phakic refractive lens, CIBA Vision, Duluth, GA) demonstrated positive visual outcomes in the treatment of high hyperopia, according to Alexander Hatsis, MD, who presented the results of the FDA phase II trial.

Napa, CA-When Santen Inc. entered the U.S. marketplace, the company's initial corporate campaign featured a bright-eyed, smiling little girl named Molly. The little girl was the focal point of the campaign that was entitled, "Protecting the Joy of Sight."

Alameda, CA-InSite Vision Inc.'s antibiotic product ISV-401 has proved safe and effective for treating acute bacterial conjunctivitis in a phase II clinical study.

Stanford, CA-The Artisan hyperopia lens (Ophtec BV, Groningen, The Netherlands) appears to provide good visual results for extreme hyperopia ranging from 3 to 12 D, according to phase III results reported by Edward E. Manche, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology and director of cornea and refractive surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

Fort Worth, TX-Alcon Research Ltd. is enrolling about 500 patients in a phase III study to compare the effects of anecortave acetate versus verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis) photodynamic therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.

Monrovia, CA-Twenty-four hours after he became the first patient to receive a Toric Implantable Contact Lens (TICL), Ron Nagel was able to see well enough to pass a driving test without glasses.

Irvine, CA-When Allergan announced in January that it planned to spin off its optical medical device business into a separate company called Advanced Medical Optics (AMO), David E.I. Pyott, chairman, president, and CEO of Allergan, said the company would evolve into a specialty pharmaceutical company.

San Diego-Immusol has begun a phase II clinical trial for its VitrenASE, a potential treatment for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) that could reduce the incidence of repeat retinal detachment after surgical repair.

Vancouver, Canada-QLT and Novartis are running a new phase IIIB trial of verteporfin (Visudyne) to determine whether better outcomes occur if CNV leakage is treated with a more aggressive treatment regimen in the first 6 months.

Philadelphia-The performance of glaucoma medications in phase III FDA trials may not reflect their performance in a real-world clinical setting, according to researchers at Wills Eye Hospital.

Santa Ana, CA-"A new coMpany is bOrn" announced the print advertisement that appeared recently in the ophthalmic journals. The rays of a rising sun burst forth over an optic planet, symbolic of the dawning of a new company with "the future of sight."

Newton Square, PA-Consumers now have an interactive tool to help them determine if LASIK is right for them. The new "Am I a Candidate for LASIK?" feature can be found on www.AllAboutVision.com, an eye health Web site.

Durham, NC-Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s treatment for dry eye has yielded positive results from the completed phase III clinical trials.

New York-Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc. has completed enrollment in two phase III trials of Macugen, its treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and has received $54.2 million from investors for further development of the drug.

Philadelphia-In an uncertain economic climate, the ophthalmic market can take stock in knowing it is alive and well, according to Kenneth P. Taylor, an independent industry consultant.

The introduction of ocular aberrometers is providing vision and ophthalmology researchers with a new understanding about parameters affecting quality of vision.

Fairfield, CT-Pharmaceutical sales in the United States rose 16% during the year that ended May 31, the highest increase of all countries, according to IMS Health Inc.

New York-Pfizer's acquisition of Pharmacia Corp. in a stock-for-stock agreement poises both companies for growth and leadership in the pharmaceutical industry.

Philadelphia-Conductive keratoplasty (CK), a collagen shrinking procedure, has produced good visual results for patients treated for hyperopia and presbyopia, according to researchers at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Philadelphia-Patients with high myopia and high hyperopia seemed to have a good response to the implantation of the Phakic Refractive Lens (PRL, Medennium Inc.), according to Kenneth J. Hoffer, MD, who reported on the phase III trial for myopia and the phase II trial for hyperopia during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here.

Santa Ana, CA-A brand new company (albeit with a long history) with a brand new headquarters and a brand new management team and board of directors. It's the stuff of which success is made.

New York-The official definition of glaucoma has changed over the years to downplay the role of IOP, although IOP does remain a central issue in the treatment and prevention of the condition. Such was the conclusion drawn from discussions at the Glaucoma 2002 meeting here.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy is a promising treatment of neovascularization brought on by various ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Lawrence J. Singerman, MD.