News

To help combat the unfavorable view the public has about pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) recently published updates to their "Code on Interactions with Health-care Professionals," which went into effect Jan. 1. PhRMA's basis for the updates is that "interactions should be focused on informing health-care professionals about products, providing scientific and educational information, and supporting medical education." Changes have been made in three major categories: gifting, consulting, and enforcement of the code.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) commended President Barack Obama for singling out the importance of eye and vision care when he signed the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

According to a study published in the February issue of Ophthalmology younger people seem to make judgments about the age and alertness of older people by looking into and around their eyes.

Roche will reduce its original offer to purchase outstanding shares of Genentech from $89 per share, or $43.7 billion, to $86.50 per share, or $42.1 billion, and will go directly to shareholders for approval, the company has announced.

Fortune magazine has named Genentech and Alcon Laboratories to its latest '100 Best Companies to Work For' list of U.S. employers.

The World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association have set March 12 as the second annual World Glaucoma Day.

Ophthalmology Times has been named a finalist in the 55th annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Awards competition recognizing editorial excellence.

The FDA has accepted for review a new drug application filed by Sirion Therapeutics Inc. for ganciclovir ophthalmic gel 0.15%.

Patients treated with ecabet sodium demonstrated a strong positive trend in the objective sign of tear film break-up time and a positive trend in the objective sign of quantity of tears produced in a phase IIb study conducted by ISTA Pharmaceuticals.

Bausch & Lomb launched a new advertising campaign geared toward baby boomers and seniors about its FDA-approved accommodating IOL (Crystalens).

One year follow-up results of a small study of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) in patients with nonischemic retinal vein occlusion show that all treated patients gained VA or that VA remained stable, although this improvement was accompanied by decreases in contrast sensitivity and reading ability.

After 2 years, the federal government's voluntary Competitive Acquisition Program has been put on hold as of January.

This is the time of year that my administrator asks me: "So, where are we going in the new year? What I have finally come to learn is that instead of asking, "Where are we going?" it is more valuable to ask, "Where have we been?"

In a small pilot study with limited follow-up, early application of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) using a specific diode laser (IQ810, Iridex Corp.) appeared promising. Use of this multifunctional laser may have practical advantages in a clinical setting. Further study of the technology is needed to determine the role of MLT in the treatment of glaucoma.

A topical eye drop (OT-551, Othera) is being investigated to treat geographic atrophy in dry age-related macular degeneration. The treatment is an antioxidant that in vitro protects against antioxidative damage and in vivo protects against light damage. One-year data are expected to be reported in the spring.

JPE1375 (Jerini Ophthalmic), a peptidomimetic inhibitor of the complement factor 5a receptor, blocks the mechanism that draws inflammatory cells into the disease process of age-related macular degeneration. When blocked, the numbers of neutrophils and macrophages decrease substantially and in turn the choroidal neovascularization also decreases.

In a small retrospective study, eyes receiving intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) within 3 months of a central retinal vein occlusion showed rapid improvement in anatomic abnormalities and subsequent improvement in vision. The benefits were maintained with repeated injections after a mean follow-up of 1 year.

A phase 1 trial of rapamycin (Sirolimus, MacuSight) indicated that the drug is safe and has biologic activity in patients with diabetic macular edema when injected intravitreally and subconjunctivally.

Oral fenretinide (Sirion Therapeutics) is being investigated in a phase II study as a treatment for advanced geographic atrophy associated with age-related macular degeneration. It is hypothesized that this agent may limit disease progression by preventing delivery of circulating retinol to the eye, thereby reducing the accumulation of retinol-derived metabolites that are toxic to the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells.

Microincision vitrectomy surgery has rapidly gained increased popularity. It is associated with many advantages, but there have been some reports of disadvantages such as a significantly higher incidence of endophthalmitis postoperatively, though more recent reports do not substantiate this conclusion. Advances in the technology likely will facilitate safer and more efficient vitrectomy.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography is becoming an invaluable diagnostic tool and greatly helps ophthalmologists better manage their patients' conditions, according to one expert. This improved management of conditions, he said, can be realized not only in the medical arena but also in the surgical arena as well.

The Micro-Surgical Safety Task Force analyzed potential complications associated with sutureless vitrectomy and disseminated guidelines to reduce the rate of endophthalmitis associated with 25-gauge vitrectomy.

Employing a therapeutic approach consisting of pan-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) blockers such as ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) and/or bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) as an induction therapy, followed by a selective VEGF blocker such as pegaptanib (Macugen, OSI/Eyetech) as a maintenance therapy, appears to be effective in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to the interim results of the LEVEL study. This approach may be preferred for many patients from the standpoint of systemic safety.

The treatment of diabetic retinopathy seems to be managed well with the use of the diode laser. According to one expert, the micropulsed diode laser is particularly effective in treatment of this disease, offering patients a safe and painless treatment solution.

A new surgical platform (Constellation Vision System, Alcon Laboratories) incorporates advanced design features for improved surgical efficiency and safety. Vitrectomy probes (Ultravit, Alcon) facilitate high-speed cutting and control of the duty cycle.

Antagonists of vascular endothelial growth factor provide a benefit for choroidal neovascularization and are promising for other retinal diseases, but they represent only the beginning of a transformation in the treatment of certain eye diseases, according to one ophthalmologist.

Disconnecting from the worldwide electronic ophthalmic community and living in the moment, although a scary concept, can be done. And it can be enjoyable, especially with the right company.

The FDA approved a multifocal IOL (Tecnis, Advanced Medical Optics) for implantation in patients with cataract and presbyopia.