Nemus Bioscience and Nanomerics have signed a development agreement to develop a topical ocular formulation of tetrahydracannabinol-valine-hemisuccinate, according to a Nemus press release.The active component of NB1111, a product candidate from Nemus for the treatment of glaucoma, is tetrahydracannabinol-valine-hemisuccinate (THCVHS), the prodrug of THC, the release said. The agreement involves initial studies assessing the preparation of clinical-grade eye drops using Nanomerics’ patented Molecular Envelope Technology (MET).
Author: Healio ophthalmology
NJHA, AARP voice concern ahead of House vote on American Health Care Act
COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — New Jersey residents and a panel of health care professionals and advocates voiced their concerns about the fate of the Affordable Care Act on Thursday at a community event organized by Congressman Donald Norcross (D).In the midst of the event, Norcross informed attendees via Skype that the scheduled House vote on the Republican health care plan was canceled, and said he expected the vote to occur on Friday.
STAAR Surgical reports $12.1 million loss in 2016
STAAR Surgical reported a net loss of $12.1 million, or $0.30 per share, in 2016 compared with a net loss of $6.5 million, or $0.17 per share, in 2015, according to a company press release.Full-year net sales were up 7% to $82.4 million, with fourth qu…
Many youths with diabetes not monitored for diabetic retinopathy by 6 years after diagnosis
Many youths with a diagnosis of diabetes do not receive eye examinations to screen for diabetic retinopathy within 6 years of their diagnosis, according to a study. A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study focused on patients 21 years and younger who…
GOP leaders postpone House vote on AHCA
Lacking enough support from within their own party, Republican leaders in the House today postponed an anticipated vote on legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care system. Republicans could vote on it Friday, according to reports.The postponement came amid opposition from some Republicans regarding the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the expectation that no House Democrats would vote in its favor.
VIDEO: How a physician can perform well in MIPS
ORLANDO, Fla. — In a video perspective from the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, Michael Sherling, MD, MBA, discusses the components of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, known as MIPS, and how a physician can perform well with it.Sherling, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Modernizing Medicine, reported that there are three components that comprise MIPS scoring: quality, improvement activities and advancing care.
AGTC reports $2.1 million income in second quarter
Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation reported a net income of $2.1 million in its second fiscal quarter compared with a net income of $3 million in the same period of 2015, the company announced in a press release. Revenue in that period totaled $1…
FDA approves AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +2.5 multifocal toric IOL with ActiveFocus design
The FDA has approved the Alcon AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +2.5 multifocal toric IOL with ActiveFocus design, according to a press release from Novartis.Designed for patients undergoing cataract surgery to address astigmatism and presbyopia, the IOL delivers cle…
ONL Therapeutics receives approximately $1 million grant from NEI
The National Eye Institute has awarded ONL Therapeutics a grant worth almost $1 million to continue developing its lead therapeutic candidate ONL1204, according to a company press release.ONL1204 is a small molecule FAS inhibitor designed to protect re…
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: ASCRS Research Council aims to mirror success of DRCR.net
The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network is a collaboration among the National Eye Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, industry and more than 400 committed retina specialists at 120 practices. The …
AMA urges members of Congress to oppose American Health Care Act
The American Medical Association today released a letter to members of Congress urging them to oppose the American Health Care Act, citing projections that it will cost millions of Americans their health insurance coverage. The AMA noted that it is necessary to continue finding new ways to provide Americans with affordable health insurance, but the AHCA “pushes policy in the wrong direction,” according to an AMA press release.
ACP: New amendments to AHCA ‘even less acceptable’
ACP recently sent a letter to the Congressional leadership in strong opposition of the manager’s amendments to the American Health Care Act, arguing that several new proposals fail to improve access, quality and cost of health care for patients. Moreover, Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, MACP, president of ACP, noted in the letter that the modifications worsen the negative impact of the bill, making it “even less acceptable than it was before it was modified.”
Trump’s FDA pick brings ‘relief,’ but ties to industry criticized
When President Donald J. Trump nominated Scott Gottlieb, MD, to be the next FDA commissioner, the announcement was met with relief by some that the agency’s scientific rigor would not be undermined but also warnings about Gottlieb’s deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry.Gottlieb, a past deputy commissioner at the FDA, has been a paid consultant for several pharmaceutical companies, reportedly accepting close to a half million dollars for his work.
Combined procedures do not increase risk of pseudophakic CME
The combination of ab interno glaucoma surgery with phacoemulsification does not increase the risk of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema as compared with phacoemulsification alone, according to a study.The retrospective study included 126 eyes that und…
ACP: Ethical use of EHRs must be examined, addressed
Electronic health records should facilitate high-quality patient-centered care, assist and enhance clinical reason, and maintain privacy and confidentiality, according to a paper authored by the ACP and published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.“Electronic health records (EHRs) provide benefits for patients, physicians and clinical teams, but also raise ethical questions,” Lois Snyder Sulmasy, JD, of the ACP, and colleagues wrote.
Restasis Multidose now available in US
Restasis Multidose, the first preservative-free prescription eye drop to be offered in a multidose bottle, is now available in the United States, Allergan announced in a press release.The product, which helps increase the eye’s natural ability to produce tears and reduce inflammation, treats chronic dry eye.
Phase 1/2 trial of gene therapy treatment for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa begins
A phase 1/2 clinical trial of a gene therapy treatment for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa has begun enrolling and dosing subjects, NightstaRx announced in a press release.It is the first kind of trial like this for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. The gen…
Fine needle aspiration biopsy safe in uveal melanoma
A study carried out at Retina Consultants of Houston and Houston Methodist Hospital confirmed the safety of fine needle aspiration biopsy in patients with uveal melanoma. No tumor cells were found in the scleral tract of the needle or adjacent pars pla…
Novaliq, AFT Pharmaceuticals enter licensing agreement for NovaTears
Novaliq and AFT Pharmaceuticals have entered a strategic licensing agreement for the commercialization of Novaliq’s NovaTears in Australia and New Zealand, Novaliq announced in a press release.AFT will have an exclusive license to commercialize NovaTears, used to treat evaporative dry eye diseases, in Australia and New Zealand, and Novaliq will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and royalties on the product’s net sales, under the terms of the agreement.
FDA sets Aug. 24 as PDUFA date for latanoprostene bunod
The FDA has set Aug. 24 for its decision on the new drug application for latanoprostene bunod, according to a press release from Bausch + Lomb and Nicox.Latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution 0.024% is a single-agent once-daily eye drop designed to l…