For those of you who have been following my writings on Avastin vs. Lucentis and on the CATT Study, the two-year results comparing Avastin to Lucentis have just been published in Ophthalmology (1) and no significant differences between either the two d…
Author: Irv Arons
Iluvien Update 6: First European Marketing Approval Obtained
While U.S. marketing approval appears to be out of reach for Alimera and pSivida for Iluvien for the sustained release treatment of diabetic macular edema, the first of six expected approvals for Europe has been obtained. The companies announced that t…
Retinitis Pigmentosa Update: Three Blind Mice – Let There Be Sight!
In a potential breakthrough, especially for those suffering from retinitis pigmentosa who have lost vision due to degenerated photoreceptors in their retina, scientists from the University College of London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology have managed…
A Searchable Archive of Medical/Surgical/Cosmetic Laser Business and Technology News for 1996-2005
Medical Laser Business and Technology News ArchiveArchive of Medical/Surgical/Cosmetic Laser Business and Technology News for 1996 – 2005As with the archive of Ophthalmic Laser Business and Technology News, previously posted on this site (link: http://…
A Searchable Archive of Ophthalmic Laser Business and Technology News for 1996-2005
Medical Laser Business and Technology News ArchiveArchive of Ophthalmic Laser Business and Technology News for 1996-2005For over ten years, from the Fall of 1995 until December 2005, I wrote and published the monthly Executive Laser Briefing (ELB) news…
Stem Cells in Ophthalmology Update 19: ACT Adds Bascom Palmer as Another Clinical Site for Dry AMD Trials
In an announcement today, Advanced Cell Technology said that Bascom Palmer Eye Institute had received IRB approval to become the third U.S. clinical site for testing ACT’s human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells in the trea…
Stem Cells in Ophthalmology Update 18: Stem Cells Inc. Demonstrates That its Human Neural Stem Cells Preserve Vision – Gets FDA Authorization to Initiate Clinical Trial for Dry AMD
On January 30, 2012, Stem Cells Inc. announced the publication of preclinical data demonstrating that its proprietary HuCNS-SCr cells (purified human neural stem cells) protect host photoreceptors and preserve vision in an animal model of retinal disea…
Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Update 10: Gene Therapy Research in Dogs Cures X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa – Paves the Way for Similar Treatment in Humans
Researchers at several universities and laboratories collaborated to treat dogs afflicted with the x-linked form of retinitis pigmentosa, to deliver the therapeutic RPGR gene specifically to the diseased rods and cones, which led to functional and stru…
NeoVista Update 5: CABERNET Study Did Not Meet Primary Endpoint at Two Years
In an unexpected outcome, Dr. Pravin Dugel presented the 2-year results of the CABERNET study, evaluating the use of NeoVista’s VIDION ANV epimacular brachytherapy device at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s (BPEI) Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degene…
Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Update 9: Oxford BioMedica/OHSU Preparing to Treat First Usher Syndrome Patient & Oxford BioMedica Ophthalmic Program Update
In an announcement today from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and confirmed by Oxford BioMedica, the Casey Eye Institute of the Oregan Health & Science University (OHSU) is preparing to treat the first Usher Syndrome patient under the clinical p…
AMD Update 18: A New Approach to Fighting Retinal Degeneration
I just learned this afternoon, of a start-up company, MitoChem Therapeutics, which is apparently an outgrowth of the Vision Research program at the Ophthalmology department at the University of South Carolina. Two of their scientists, Drs. Rohrer and B…
Iluvien Update 5: European Approval on the Horizon
Finally, some good news for Alimera (and pSivida). A few days ago, the company announced that it had received a positive outcome to the Decentralized Procedure (DCP) for Iluvien in Europe. Iluvien is now expected to be the first sustained release pharm…
Potential Major Breakthrough in Treatment of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
A single injection of a new gene therapy treatment from Avalanche Biotech could possibly stop the advance of neovascularization in the wet form of AMD for several years. Human clinical trials are currently underway. Here is how I commented about this breakthrough in my writeup: “If this approach is successful, it could result in a […]
A Novel Gene Therapy Approach to Treating the Wet Form of AMD: The BioFactoryTM From Avalanche Biotech
I originally contacted this company in November 2010, when they were still in “stealth mode” and weren’t able to share details about what they were doing. Recently, the company got back in touch to provide an update, having announced, in December 2…
Menu 21: A List of Writeups on Gene Therapy Used in Ophthalmology
As with my menu on stem cells used in ophthalmology (Menu 20), here is one for the current articles on the use of gene therapy in ophthalmology, with links to the full writeups.I have repeated the offer for my tables showing the companies and instituti…
Menu 20: A List of Writeups on Stem Cells Used in Ophthalmology
I realized that I’ve put posted nearly 20 articles on the subject of using stem cells in ophthalmology, and thought interested readers might like to see a compilation in one place, with links to the full writeups, so here it is. I intend to follow th…
AMD Update 17: Dame Judi Dench Has Macular Degeneration
Over the weekend, several articles appeared in the British press and also here in the States, about Dame Judi Dench announcing that she has macular degeneration – dry in one eye and wet in the other – and that she was going blind, although she was …
Stem Cells in Ophthalmology Update 17: Recent ACT Updates
While I was out of the country on vacation, Advanced Cell Technology issued four news releases about their ongoing human embryonic stem cell trials. Here is a compilation of what transpired during my absence.Jan. 25, 2012 — ACT Announces that Addition…
Current Resources: The Use of Stem Cells and Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology
As many of you are aware, over the past couple of years, I’ve been tracking and reporting on the companies and institutions involved in research and clinical trials using both stem cells and gene therapy in ophthalmology. With the help of several ind…
AMD Update 16: Visualization of Drusen and RPE With New Software Application for Zeiss HD-OCT: A New Aid for Assessing Both Dry and Wet AMD
As noted below, by both Drs. Rosenfeld and Puliafito, this new diagnostic tool will play an important role in assessing and speeding the development of new treatments for both dry and wet AMD that are being researched and brought to the market.In an a…