News

Eye advance online publication 12 February 2010; doi: 10.1038/eye.2010.9

Eye advance online publication 12 February 2010; doi: 10.1038/eye.2010.3

VEGF Trap-Eye, the fully human, soluble VEGF receptor fusion protein that binds all forms of VEGF-A along with the related Placental Growth Factor (PIGF), has shown positive results in a Phase 2 study in patients with diabetic macular oedema (DME.

Researchers in the journal, Archives of Ophthalmology have indicated that results from a 4-year study of more than 21,000 Americans point to an association between glaucoma medications and a lower death rate.

LUVENIQ (LX211; oral voclosporin) has been filed for approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US's Food and Drug Administration by Lux Biosciences. The drug is aimed at treatment of non-infectious uveitis for the intermediate or posterior segments of the eye.

Coherent is unique amongst laser manufacturers in the breadth of our excimer laser product portfolio and the depth of our experience in building products for both Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and other refractive techniques.

A paper entitled A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Microplasmin Intravitreous Injection to Facilitate Posterior Vitreous Detachment Before Vitrectomy has been published online ahead of print in Ophthalmology.

Pfizer's CEO, Jeffrey Kindler has received the 2010 Catalyst Award, the Glaucoma Research Foundation's highest honour, acknowledging his role in sustaining innovative research and education.

An international course on ophthalmic and oculoplastic reconstruction and trauma surgery will be taking place in Vienna from April 15-17 at the Vienna General Hospital/Neurosurgical Laboratory.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) awarded the 2010 Shaffer Prize for Innovative Glaucoma Research to Kate Keller, PhD. Dr Keller is Research Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology at Casey Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon.

More than 150 participants from 27 countries attended this year's SCHWIND User Meeting in Muscat, Oman.

Retinitis pigmentosa and AMD may be the beneficiaries of a new tool for gene therapy that significantly increases gene delivery to cells in the retina.

Australia's Centre for Eye Research has discovered a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene, which it hopes will provide important insights into biological mechanisms involved in ocular development.

Hans Werquin will become CEO of Hoya Vision Care Europe from the beginning of April 2010. He will report to Gerald Bottero, who has been leading the European branch for the past five years. Bottero remains CEO of Hoya Vision Care globally.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is being put to a secondary use by scientists in Poland

Novartis plans to assume complete control over Alcon Laboratories Inc. in a two-step process that some analysts and some members of Alcon?s board of directors are challenging for its fairness under Swiss and US merger laws.

A Kaiser Permanents Southern California study published in this month?s Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, compares ranibizumab (Lucentis) and bevacizumab (Avastin) and found them to be equally effective in halting vision loss.

Presbia , which develops and markets a surgical solution for presbyopia has appointed ophthalmic surgeons Dr Jorge L. Alio of Madrid, Spain (an OTEurope editorial advisory board member) and Dr Kerry K. Assil of California, have agreed to serve on its Medical Advisory Board.

Alcon is to buy the rights in the United States for two FDA-approved topical eye care products from Sirion Therapeutics, Inc Durezol, a marketed ophthalmic corticosteroid approved for the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with eye surgery, and Zirgan, a recently approved antiviral for the treatment of acute herpetic keratitis (corneal ulcers).

Research published in the journal Cell Death and Disease by University College of London scientists indicates that a simple eye test may, in future, be able to detect Alzheimer's, amongst other diseases.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation?s highest honour, the Catalyst Award, has been given to Jeffrey B. Kindler, chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of Pfizer Inc. The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in research and education in support of those affected by glaucoma.

Alcon has entered into the surgical glaucoma market by acquiring Optonol, a manufacturer and marketer of novel minature surgical implants used to reduce IOP.

Alcon's formal response to Novartis' s proposal to acquire the minority publicly traded shares of Alcon. In a letter to the CEO of Novartis the Alcon Committee said that the terms proposed were “grossly inadequate.”

Carl Zeiss's current CEO, Dr Michael Kaschke, has resigned his position on the company?s Management Board.

Successful limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) treatment in eight patients using their own stem cells without immunity suppression has been reported by scientists at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI).

Researchers in The Netherlands have concluded that dietary intake or plasma levels of vitamins C and E and magnesium do not seem to be associated with diabetic retinopathy.

Research claims that imaging devices can effectively support ophthalmologists with glaucoma diagnosis

)? Oraya Therapeutics, Inc., announced today that enrollment is now underway for the first ever masked and sham-controlled study to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of radiation therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The groundbreaking clinical trial is being conducted at seven European sites, and will include a minimum of 150 patients, with approximately one third of those receiving a sham exposure and the remainder receiving radiation dosing of either 16 or 24 Gray (GY).