Retina

While there is currently no cure for blindness, an artificial vision system has undergone its first successful implantation, bringing with it the potential to restore partial vision to people who have lost their sight.

Tiffani Martin was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes when she was just 5 years old, and has battled myriad health issues as a result, including vision loss. Leading the charge for a multifactorial approach to combat diabetes, Kristen Nwanyanwu, MD, MBA, MHS, and her team have embraced the need for a multi-pronged program to address health disparities in diabetic retinopathy.

At Angiogenesis, Dr. David Brown presented the Phase 2 results of the CANDELA study for high dose aflibercept 8 milligram for wet AMD; here, he discusses those results.

The company recently took the wraps off an exclusive agreement with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Foundation for Research Development to license next generation complement-targeted gene therapies for the treatment of geographic atrophy and other ocular diseases.

Kato Pharmaceuticals will study the efficacy of Resolv ER for the treatment of vitreomacular attachment.

According to data presented by Horizon Therapeutics at the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society annual meeting held this week in Austin, Texas, Uplizna treatment is linked to fewer severe attacks and reduced levels of key disease-related biomarkers versus placebo.

Researchers know that parts of the retina are considered as biomarkers for Alzheimer’s, but the team from Otago’s Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit in New Zealand have been investigating the retina’s potential to indicate cognitive change earlier in life.

According to the company, it is developing elamipretide for treatment of extra-foveal GA under U.S. FDA Fast Track designation.

AM712 is a novel bispecific biologic molecule specifically designed for ocular use. In pre-clinical studies, it demonstrated efficacy, ocular pharmacokinetics, and the desired safety profile supporting clinical exploration.

During a presentation at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2022 conference, Robert Bhisitkul, MD, PhD, provided 24-week clinical data from the Phase 1 study, demonstrating that patients with DME and wAMD showed improved visual acuity through 24 weeks following a single dose of UBX1325.

Dr. Katherine Talcott discusses baseline factors—CST thickness, hemoglobin A1C, and baseline vision—and their effects on DME resolution.

Dr. Carel Hoyng divulges the main takeaways from his Angiogenesis presentation, including the origins of Stargardt disease, correct diagnosis, ongoing gene therapy trials and the future of therapy.

Dr. Carl Regillo discusses the 100-week results of KESTREL and KITE, two pivotal Phase 3 studies for brolucizumab for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Dr. Arshad M. Khanani reviews the Phase 2 part A results of the KALAHARI study of THR-149 for the treatment of DME.

Most patients (95%) with the PDS implanted did not need supplemental treatment before the refills, indicating the persistence and durability of the treatment.

During her talk at Angiogenesis, Dr. Loewenstein outlines how artificial intelligence could revolutionize diabetic retinopathy screening.

After 2 years, the improvements in vision and anatomy were sustained with extended dosing out to every 16 weeks in a high percentage of patients.

Jay S. Duker, MD, who presented data at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s 19th annual Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2022 Virtual Edition, noted that previously treated patients showed a significantly reduced treatment

At Angiogenesis, Dr. SriniVas R. Sadda discusses how choriocapillaris may predict the rate of progression of atrophy.

During a presentation at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute's Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2022 Virtual Edition conference, David S. Boyer, MD, explained that the drug, which is being considered to treat diabetic retinopathy, renal disease, and age-related macular degeneration, is intended to be an alternative therapy to monthly chronically administered intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs.

Dr. Nadia K. Waheed reviews the latest updates on the FOCUS trial, evaluating AAV-based viral vector GT005 for the treatment of geographic atrophy.

In a presentation at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s 19th annual Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2022 Virtual Edition, Amir Kashani, MD, PhD, discussed results that show the implant procedure is feasible on an outpatient basis and has a good safety and efficacy profile.

Dr. David S. Boyer describes how blocking Connexin-43 may improve the retinal vascular system function in patients with diabetes, potentially creating a future of oral medication for treatment of diabetic retinopathy and AMD.

Stanford researchers found an implanted chip, natural eyesight coordinate vision in study of macular degeneration patients.

The company completed enrollment ahead of schedule in a second Phase 3 FDA registration trial for Nyxol in RM with top-line results expected by the end of the first quarter.

The latest invention from Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhD, brings hope to sufferers of age-related macular degeneration, a common type of blindness.

The team hopes the use of patient-derived stem cells will enable high-throughput drug screening for potential therapeutics for patients.

NGM621 is a monoclonal antibody product candidate engineered to potently inhibit complement C3 for the treatment of patients with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

The company noted that the study was the first to evaluate whether AI software can accurately detect more-than-mild diabetic retinopathy using a single image per eye, obtained from either a desktop or handheld retinal camera.