The FDA is warning clinicians about serious adverse events reported after intravitreal injections of triamcinolone and moxifloxacin compounded by Guardian Pharmacy Services in Dallas.At least 43 patients at two Dallas surgery centers experienced seriou…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Ophthotech reports lower revenue in second quarter
Ophthotech reported $1.7 million in collaboration revenue in the second quarter of 2017 compared with $28.2 million for the same period in 2016, according to a company press release.The decrease was attributed to “lower revenue from clinical drug supply shipments and due to the inclusion of the final enrollment-based clinical milestone under the company’s agreement with Novartis Pharma AG in 2016,” the release said.
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Substantial changes likely in eye banking, corneal transplantation community
The Eye Bank Association of America was founded in 1961. It remains the major organization representing eye banking in the world. There is also an International Federation of Eye Banks. The EBAA mission includes eye bank and technician certification, e…
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Finding balance in ophthalmology
Early in my career I received some sage advice: Emulate your mentors initially but then develop your own judgment and style. We were discussing the optimal delivery of podium talks at ophthalmology meetings, but these words of wisdom apply to many aspe…
Top ophthalmology stories of July
The most-read ophthalmology articles on Healio.com/OSN in July included journal summaries and FDA news. Here are the top five most-viewed stories from the month:
Causal agents correlated with eyelid allergic dermatitis
A study investigating the causes of eyelid allergic dermatitis found a common correlation with glaucoma medications, topical cosmetics and skin care products. A short course of topical corticosteroids was effective as a treatment in most cases.The stud…
‘Skinny repeal’ fails, next steps uncertain
Twenty hours of tense debate among the U.S. senators ended with the rejection of the “skinny repeal” bill — a major setback to President Donald J. Trump and the Republican Party’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, sided with Democrats to oppose the legislation, which failed by a vote to 49 to 51.
Biplanar sclerostomy spatula used for ab interno bleb revisions
Researchers found that an ab interno translimbal bleb revision in eyes with a previously failed trabeculectomy can be safely performed with a biplanar sclerostomy spatula. The retrospective chart review included 21 eyes of 21 patients who underwent the bleb revision with a Grover-Fellman biplanar sclerostomy spatula; all patients received mitomycin C at least 1 week before the operation. At 12 months’ follow-up, the average IOP was 12.1 mm Hg, decreased from 21.9 mm Hg at baseline, and 0.86 medications, down from 3.7.
Interventional cardiologists at high risk for cataracts
Interventional cardiologists and other staff exposed to ionizing radiation are more prone to developing cataract, according to data published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. In a meta-analysis of eight studies, Ahmed Elmaraezy, MD,…
Debate, fluidity continues over repeal, replacement of ACA
The United States Senate is more than halfway through 20 hours of debate over the so-called “skinny repeal” bill that would start the process of eliminating the Affordable Care Act. Though the bill is very fluid and mostly unknown at the time of this writing, certain components have risen for discussion.
Tocilizumab shows positive results for giant cell arteritis in phase 3 trial
In a phase 3 trial, tocilizumab showed positive phase 3 trial results for patients with giant cell arteritis.“The publication of these phase 3 results in The New England Journal of Medicine validates the significance of our considerable basic and clinical autoimmune disease research in medical practice,” Sandra Horning, MD, chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development, said in a press release from Genentech. “The data from the GiACTA supported the FDA approval of the first new treatment option for patients with [giant cell arteritis] GCA in more than (Read more...)
FDA clears Quantel for laser system to treat retinal diseases
The FDA has granted Quantel Medical 510(k) market clearance for the Easyret 577 nm yellow photocoagulator, which is used to treat certain forms of macular edema and peripheral retinal pathologies.The photocoagulator can be set to treat a single spot or…
Latest Iluvien data similar to trial results
Patients with chronic diabetic macular edema treated with an Iluvien implant experienced an average visual acuity increase from 51.9 letters at baseline to 57.2 letters at 24-month follow-up, with IOP-related adverse events occurring at a similar frequency as those reported in the FAME study.Fourteen United Kingdom clinics contributed data comparing real-world safety and visual function outcomes in eyes treated with an Iluvien implant (0.2µg per day fluocinolone acetonide, Alimera Sciences). Three hundred forty-five eyes of 305 patients with chronic DME had a mean follow-up of 428 days.
Santen initiates phase 2a study of DE-122 for wet AMD
Santen has initiated a phase 2a clinical study of the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injections of DE-122 for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, according to a joint press release from Santen and Tracon Pharmaceuticals.The rand…
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: The state of dry eye care, part 2
As we head into the summer months, I thought it would be helpful to take the pulse of our dry eye world and report on the state of the state, if you will. In part 1 I reviewed how we are diagnosing dry eye in our clinics — and learned that the news cycle does not respect the editorial/creative process when RPS sold InflammaDry while my piece was in turnaround. Let us now examine the state of dry eye disease treatment.As a group, doctors who treat DED have become much (Read more...)
Ozurdex implant tolerated well, with IOP spikes transient and treatable
A retrospective real-life study of patients treated with the Ozurdex dexamethasone implant for various indications showed overall good tolerance and provided useful information on risk factors for pressure elevation.Four hundred twenty-one eyes of 361 …
4D Molecular Therapeutics teams with Foundation Fighting Blindness to develop gene therapies
4D Molecular Therapeutics announced a partnership with Foundation Fighting Blindness to develop intravitreal gene therapeutics for patients with inherited retinal degenerations and dry age-related macular degeneration. 4D Molecular Therapeutics will pr…
ASCRS, ASOA representatives meet with Congress members at annual fly-in
About 50 physicians and ophthalmic administrators representing the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators met with members of Congress in Washington to discuss the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the need for regulatory relief for physicians and other care providers from several specific program requirements, according to an ASCRS press release. The representatives met with Congress through the annual Alliance of Specialty Medicine Legislative Fly-In, with a total of 135 physicians and practice administrators participating. According to an (Read more...)
Allegro Ophthalmics receives $10.7 million in private financing
Allegro Ophthalmics announced it has secured $10.7 million in a private round of equity financing. The additional capital will allow the company to complete several phase 2 clinical trials and help prepare for phase 3 studies in the future, Vicken Kara…
New definition of dry eye disease recognizes its multifactorial nature
The TFOS DEWS II membership acknowledged the need to recognize the multifactorial nature of dry eye disease, which has led to a refined definition of the disease, wherein loss of homeostasis of the tear film is the central pathophysiological concept.A …