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» Potential for a small molecule therapeutic uncovered through epigenetic screen in retinoblastoma....
New research published in the journal Nature has demonstrated that retinoblastoma may develop rapidly due, in part, to epigenetic deregulation of key cancer pathways following the bi-allelic loss of RB1. The research, led by specialists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, showed that expression of the proto-oncogene, spleen tyrosine kinase ("SYK"), was the only up-regulated kinase gene detected in comparative studies between retinoblastoma tumours and human fetal retinae. Small molecule inhibitors of SYK have been tested in patients for rheumatoid arthritis and, according to the authors, may advance "immediate therapeutic options that were not previously considered".
Date Posted: 16/01/2012
» Oxygen sensitive ....
A key objective in gene therapy treatments is the design of a system that delivers the right gene in the right place at the right time and at the right concentration. Inappropriate gene expression in the wrong tissues can lead to harmful effects and several research groups worldwide have focused significant efforts into fine-tuning the mechanics of how and when to turn genes on and off for maximal therapeutic benefit. New studies from a US research team, based at the Centre for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences at Florida Atlantic University, has now reported on the construction of a novel gene promoter regulated by oxygen concentration. The promoter, which may be incorporated upstream of a therapeutic gene, could ultimately be used in the treatment of hypoxia-related retinal disorders, including diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration.
Date Posted: 01/01/2012
» First report demonstrates the effects of nicotine on ERGs of the human retina ....
A research team, based at the School of Optometry, University of Alabama, USA, have published data showing that nicotine by itself dramatically reduced the dark-adapted b wave amplitude response in human volunteers. Under light adapted conditions the peak b-wave amplitude was also significantly decreased. The study, conducted by Dr. Stefanie Varghese and Dr. Kent Keyser, examined the effect of nicotine (2mg and 4mg) in ten visually normal non-smoking adults. The administration of nicotine in the form of a gum 30 minutes prior to testing ERG responses were analysed using a full field ERG system.
Date Posted: 16/12/2011
» Novel biomarker study may provide valuable clinical tool in dry eye syndrome ....
A research team, based at the University of Valladolid in Spain, has proposed using gene expression levels of an ocular surface protein as a diagnostic marker for the diagnosis of dry eye syndrome (DES). The research, published in the journal of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2011, Vol. 52, No.11, pp8363-8369) reports on a retrospective study conducted between 2000-2009 on almost 70 patients with dry eye syndrome. Expression levels of several mucins - high molecular weight proteins found on the ocular surface - showed significantly lower levels of activity in patients with DES compare to age and sex-matched control subjects. In particular, the MUC1 gene, demonstrated the greatest sensitivity (83.3%) and specificity (87.5%) among all of the mucins tested. The finding may be used to develop a valuable clinical tool for both diagnosis and clinical trial endpoints.
Date Posted: 01/12/2011
» First report of a mutant viral vector with potential to improve efficiency in treating severe LCA ....
A research team, based at the RC Byrd Health Sciences Centre, West Virginia University, has shown that a self complimentary AAV (adeno-associated virus) vector with a specific capsid alteration can increase the transduction efficiency of a replacement gene therapy for LCA (Leber congenital amaurosis). The research, conducted by Dr. Cristy Ku and Professor Visvanathan Ramamurthy, represented the first ever demonstration in a rapid retinal degeneration model using a self complimentary AAV with mutations of surface-exposed tyrosine residues on the viral capsid. If successful in larger studies, the technology may have significant implications for broadening the spectrum of patients treatable with ocular gene therapy tools.
Date Posted: 15/11/2011
» Complement factor H (CFH) is shown to interact with the oxidative stress marker MDA (malondialdehyde....
A research team, based at the Centre for Molecular Medicine (CeMM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, has reported a significant finding in how certain alleles of complement factor H (CFH) may cause age-related macular degeneration. The report, published in Nature, fills in a considerable part of the CFH story originally discovered by a number of groups in 2005. The identification of malondialdehyde (MDA) - a decomposition product of lipid peroxidation - as a ligand of CFH may now explain how the original risk association operates at a molecular level. More critically, the new research shows how CFH may prevent MDA-mediated inflammation in RPE and macrophage cells.
Date Posted: 01/11/2011
» Early visual symptom patterns may assist in differential diagnosis (published in Ophthalmologica) ....
A collaborative retrospective study, between the University of Tuebingen, Germany and the University of New South Wales, Australia, has shown that patterns of early stage symptoms in a variety of retinal dystrophy cases may provide clinical clues for differential diagnosis. The research, published in Ophthalmologica, the journal of the European Society of Retina Specialists, examined and reported on the records of 544 patients with inherited retinal dystrophies at the University Eye Hospital in Tuebingen. The lead authors of the study, Dr. med. Elena Prokofyeva and Prof. Dr. med. Eberhart Zrenner, suggest that an improved understanding of symptomatic patterns from the point of disease onset should help identify retinal dystrophy patients who might benefit from early intervention.
Date Posted: 15/10/2011
» EPO-derived peptide treatment may protect tissues in models of diabetic retinopathy ....
Research from the Centre for Vision & Vascular Science at Queen's University, Northern Ireland has reported on the potential therapeutic value of using an erythropoietin (EPO)-derived peptide for treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Despite the established pro-angiogenic effects of EPO with its potential to accelerate proliferative retinopathy, the research group believes that their approach may be capable of isolating the beneficial effects of tissue repair and suppression of inflammation associated with EPO. As such, the research may hold significant promise for clinical use in the treatment of the sight-threatening disorder.
Date Posted: 16/09/2011
» A new model for Stargardt-like macular degeneration to bolster research and therapeutic development ....
New research has reported on the successful production of a large animal (porcine) model for Stargardt-like macular degeneration. The initiative will provide a crucial resource for researchers to explore novel avenues of treatment on a more representative mammalian model comprising a retinal architecture more similar to that found in humans. The work, conducted by teams from the Institute for Genomic Medicine & Shiley Eye Centre, University of California, San Diego and North Carolina State University, reported their results in the British Journal of Ophthalmology (doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2011-300417).
Date Posted: 01/09/2011
» Detection of copy number variations may contribute to identifying recessive RP ....
A collaborative research initiative between French and Spanish scientists has shown that copy number variations (CNV), particularly mid-size genomic rearrangements in the EYS gene, may be a common occurrence in recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The finding represents the first report of a CNV screening of the EYS gene (a recently discovered gene in the RP25 locus for recessive RP) and the results demonstrate that such genomic alterations may be responsible for the phenotype of up to 4% of families with no reported mutations. Introduction of a genetic test based on the research may represent a cost-effective strategy for application in the future clinical management of recessive RP associated with the EYS gene.
Date Posted: 15/08/2011
» Next generation viral delivery systems target photoreceptors for therapy....
Researchers based at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia have demonstrated that the use of adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) is likely to represent the optimal approach to using gene therapy targeted at photoreceptor cells in the retina. The AAV8 vector and a similar construct (AAV2) have been used widely as delivery systems to carry a variety of gene constructs into human cells while AAV2 has been used in Phase I and II clinical trials to treat Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). As photoreceptor cells are the primary cell type affected in many inherited retinal degenerations the characterization of safe and efficient vectors will be key to the advance of successful gene therapies for a variety of retinal disorders.
Date Posted: 01/08/2011
» Beta-amyloid may provide a viable target for treatment of AMD....
Research, published in the US Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS, doi/10.1073/pnas.1100901108), has demonstrated that beta-amyloid (A-beta), normally targeted in Alzheimer's disease, may also reverse retinal deposition associated with dry AMD and protect visual function. The finding could open a large new market for a number of pharmaceutical companies already in late stage clinical trials with compounds targeting beta-amyloid. The research findings, built on previous observations that beta-amyloid (A-beta) accumulated in the drusen of AMD patients but not in those without AMD, firmly establish A-beta as a viable AMD target.
Date Posted: 15/07/2011
» New experimental model for RP - Schapendoe hunting dogs point the way....
Researchers from Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany, have reported the generation of a new murine model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The development of the new model follows on from previous studies by the same research group showing an association between the coiled coil domain-containing 66 gene ("Ccdc66") and the canine equivalent of RP, "generalised progressive retinal atrophy" (gPRA). The original observations, made by Drs. Wanda M. Gerding and Jorg T. Epplen in Schapendoes dogs, a Dutch breed of herding dog, have advanced rapidly to characterise the pathology underlying inactivation of Ccdc66. The report, in Human Molecular Genetics (2011, doi:10.1093/hmg/ddr282), now provides a new murine model which may more accurately reflect the time course of retinal degeneration seen in RP patients.
Date Posted: 01/07/2011
» CNTF induces genes associated with inflammation and gliosis in the retina ....
Research reported in the open access journal, PLoS One (Vol. 6, Iss. 5, e20326), suggests that intravitreal injection of CNTF (ciliary neurotrophic factor) into murine eyes induces the remodelling of gene expression profiles. The findings from analysis of Muller cells showed that there was expression of a variety of genes in networks associated with transcription, cell cycle regulation and inflammatory response following CNTF treatment. In addition, the neurotrophic factor also appeared to induce gliosis in the retina. The research provides important insights into the biology of CNTF administration in murine tissues.
Date Posted: 15/06/2011
» Japanese research team demonstrate self-assembling retina from embryonic stem cells ....
Remarkable research published in the journal Nature (Vol. 472, pp51-56, April 7, 2011) has shown the self-assembly of a mouse retina from 3-dimensional cultures of embryonic stem cells. The recapitulation of the development of a retina in a laboratory dish represents a major milestone both in technical achievement and in the potential medical application. The use of embryonic stems cells in assembly of the retina emerged spontaneously in vitro suggesting the capability of self organisation which may have significant implications for regenerative biology in the eye and many other organs.
Date Posted: 15/05/2011
» New gene discovered in pathology of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) ....
Research published in the American Journal of Human Genetics (88: 201-206 & 207-215, Feb 2011) has demonstrated that a mutation in the dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase gene (DHDDS) may lead to retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited retinal disorder primarily affecting photoreceptor neurons. The DHDDS gene product is a critical enzyme involved in the post-translational modification of proteins, in particular N-glycosylation, a fundamental biological process that maintains correct protein folding, structure and function.
Date Posted: 17/04/2011
» Reduced levels of RNAi processing enzyme found among dry AMD eyes....
New research from the University of Kentucky has identified DICER 1 (dicer 1 ribonuclease type III), an RNAi processing enzyme, to be involved in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Levels of the micro-RNA processing enzyme were found to be significantly lower in patients with the eye disorder compared to non-AMD control eyes (p=0.0036). Examination of eyes that had suffered other retinal diseases showed that levels of DICER 1 were normal suggesting the observation may be specific to dry AMD alone.
Date Posted: 18/03/2011
» New study demonstrates feasibility of cone cell transplantation to the retina ....
Researchers from University College London and the Moorfields Eye Hospital have reported on research studies demonstrating the feasibility of cone transplantation into the adult retina. The research used embryonic and post natal developing photoreceptor cells as the donor source for transplantation into two animal models of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). The authors of the report presented data supporting cone cell integration into wild type and degenerating retinae leading to the prospect of a future therapeutic application.
Date Posted: 11/02/2011
» Research records the rate of publication of clinical trials in AMD....
Research published in the journal Retina show that a little over half of the studies into new interventional clinical trials in AMD are made available through peer-reviewed publication. The surprisingly low rate of publication may arise for a range of reasons however, the authors of the Retina study suggest that significant benefits are lost when full study results are unavailable to the wider retina community.
Date Posted: 16/01/2011
» NEI announces additional resources for matching genotypic data to clinical lens and fundus images ....
The National Eye Institute (NEI) and the National Centre for Biological Information (NCBI) have announced the addition of 72,000 clinical photographs of age-related eye disease progression to its previously established genetic and clinical research database. The new digital image data, collected from participants in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), will provide a valuable resource to help match genotype information to the clinical progress of several eye diseases.
Date Posted: 08/12/2010
» Models for AMD beyond the humble Mus musculus? ....
Increasing research interest in AMD and other macular diseases has re-focused efforts to develop a more comprehensive animal model of the disease, other than the currently available common laboratory mouse and rat. A major drawback in animal studies of AMD on mice and rats is the absence of a macula, the primary part of the retina affected in AMD and other maculopathies. As the prevalence of AMD and diabetic macular edema are set to rise in line with global demographic changes, the demand for an improved understanding of the etiology and the availability of a more representative pre-clinical model is scheduled to increase over the coming decades.
Date Posted: 02/11/2010
» Ancient bacterial opsin may restore vision in retinitis pigmentosa....
Swiss researchers have reported the restoration of light sensitivity in animal models of retinitis pigmentosa using an ancient protein isolated from archaebacteria. The protein, "halorhodopsin", is a light activated chloride pump that was used by the researchers to bypass the normal opsin found in cones. In patients suffering RP, rod photoreceptor cell death generally precedes cone cell death however, while the remaining cones survive, there may be an opportunity to maintain a level of visual function by transferring the light activated halorhodopsin into cone cells. If the cones maintain the ability to process signals to second order neurons then stimulation of the normal visual circuitry may sustain functional vision even in a damaged retina.
Date Posted: 01/10/2010
» First report of potential imaging of Alzheimer's disease plaques through the retina....
Researchers based at the Cedars-Sinai Medical centre in Los Angeles have demonstrated the detection of A-beta plaques in post mortem retinas from individuals suspected and confirmed to have Alzheimer's disease. The study, led by Drs. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui and Daniel L. Farkas, suggests that a non-invasive in vivo imaging of a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease may be feasible through retinal imaging. Once validated in the retinas of live Alzheimer's patients the technology may provide a significant clinical tool in assessing patients for diagnosis, monitoring and response to medical treatment.
Date Posted: 23/08/2010
» 3-D retinal tissue constructs derived from embryonic stem cells advances potential clinical use ....
Researchers at the University of California at Irvine have reported on the development of three-dimensional retinal tissue constructs from human embryonic stem cells. The research, reported in the Journal of Neuroscience Methods, represents a major advance in the potential clinical application of stem cell technology to retinal diseases.
Date Posted: 21/07/2010
» Researchers restore visual function and preserve photoreceptors in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) model ....
A collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Florida and the University of California (San Francisco and San Diego) have successfully reported the restoration of visual function in an animal model of dominant RP. The research is the first of its kind to employ an anti-apoptotic gene therapy approach focused on over-expressing "BiP" a protein chaperone known to be involved in cellular stress signalling.
Date Posted: 02/06/2010
» Minimum inhibitory concentrations of standard and novel drugs for bacterial keratitis....
New research from the Department of Ophthalmology and Medical Microbiology at Royal Liverpool University Hospital has reported on the susceptibility of 722 bacterial isolates from patients who presented with suppurative keratitis. The data revealed that Meropenem, a newer anti-microbial potentially suitable for ophthalmic use, may represent the best choice for empiric monotherapy in bacterial keratitis.
Date Posted: 04/05/2010
» Retinal detachment-induced cell death may be inhibited by small peptides ....
Researchers from the Kellogg Eye Centre at the University of Michigan have reported on the use of a novel peptide to reduce the level of photoreceptor cell death associated with retinal detachment. The findings have the potential to extend photoreceptor cell survival not only in cases of retinal detachment but additionally in cases involving photoreceptor cell loss such as AMD and retinitis pigmentosa.
Date Posted: 16/04/2010
» Systemic delivery of stem cells rescue photoreceptors in model of retinitis pigmentosa....
Researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland have demonstrated that a tail vein injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the Royal College of Surgeon rat results in a preservation of rod and cone photoreceptors.
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Targeting of pericyte cells may provide a new target for diabetic retinopathy....
A Harvard-led research team have reported an entirely novel target in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. The research group, led by Dr. George King at the Harvard Medical School, showed that high levels of glucose were capable of quenching a specific growth factor that
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» New links uncovered between childhood blindness and the AHI1 gene....
An international research consortium led by a team at the University of California, San Diego have shown that mutations in AHI1 (Abelson helper integration site-1 gene) are associated with abnormal photoreceptor structure and an abnormal distribution of opsin in the photoreceptor
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Saving cone photoreceptors in a common form of retinitis pigmentosa paves the way for clinical studies....
Researchers at the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale in Paris have reported the successful retention of central vision in an animal model of a common form of retinitis pigmentosa. The approach, based on maintaining the cone photoreceptors, has shown both preservation of the cone cell population and the corresponding ERG.
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Paradigm shift in AMD biology may lead to new class of anti-angiogenics....
A new biomarker, "CCR3", has been found to associate specifically with choroidal neovascularisation but not with normal retinal vasculature in research reported from the University of Kentucky. The finding marks a significant development in the understanding of AMD and will likely lead to the development of both diagnostic tools for early disease
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Stem cell production of functional RPE cells marks a major milestone in therapeutic development....
One of the biggest challenges in converting the promise of stem cell therapies into clinical use is to define the elixir that directs the embryonic stem cell to produce the desired fully differentiated specialised cell type. After much tinkering and a little luck researchers at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centre in Jerusalem have now re
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Shuffling the deck - genetic modifiers may impact ciliopathy disease outcomes in complex ways....
The gap between genotype and phenotype has been well documented in the medical research literature and many clinicians will have direct knowledge of siblings and family members having the "same" disease but very distinct pathologies
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Chinese root extract shows therapeutic potential in treatment of diabetic retinopathy....
A flavone derivative ("baicalensis"), extracted from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis flowers, has been shown to reduce vascular abnormality and ganglion cell loss in an animal model of diabetic retinopathy
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» A new class of bio-markers for tracking anti-VEGF treatments....
A novel finding of phosphorylated (activated) VEGF in vitreous samples may present a new class of biomarkers for the treatment and management of AMD and other retinal disorders.
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Quark announces interim data from RNAi Phase I dosing for ocular neuro-protection....
Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Fremont, California, has announced interim data from an open-label, dose escalation Phase I trial in 38 patients treated with QPI-1007, a synthetic short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the pro-apoptotic gene caspase-2. Quark Pharmaceuticals, founded in 1994, is focused on the use of short-interfering RNA - a nucleic acid based approach for targeting RNA transcripts - currently being applied by the company to a range of ocular indications including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
Date Posted: 16/01/2012
» Potential for psychophysical assessments to provide biomarker for AMD progression ....
Diagnosing AMD as early as possible permits interventional management prior to the onset of any major structural or functional damage. A major goal of disease management is the identification of pre-symptomatic patients using a robust, reproducible and clinically relevant marker for the disease and/or progression of disease. In addition, clinical trials for new experimental AMD treatments may benefit from non-invasive outpatient procedures capable of assessing the impact of a drug on disease progression. Recent clinical data using a combination of 14-Hz flicker assessment and dynamics of the photo-stress recovery (PSR) appear to show that 71% of abnormal AMD cases could be detected using simple standardized and already established methodologies.
Date Posted: 01/01/2012
» FDA Approves Eylea (aflibercept) for treatment of wet AMD ....
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the approval of Eylea (aflibercept, formerly VEGF Trap Eye) for the treatment of neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD). The drug is a recombinant fusion protein consisting of portions of human VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) receptors 1 and 2 extracellular domains fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1, specifically purified and formulated for injection into the eye and capable of binding all forms of (VEGF-A) and Placental Growth Factor (PlGF). The drug acts as a soluble decoy receptor binding VEGF-A and PIGF thereby inhibiting the binding and activation of the cognate VEGF receptors. Developed and launched by Regeneron (Tarrytown, New York; NASDAQ:REGN) the drug now provides an approved choice for clinicians treating wet AMD and is set to compete directly with Genentech/Roche's Lucentis.
Date Posted: 16/12/2011
» Clinical pilot study of ultrasound cyclocoagulation shows safety and efficacy in refractory glaucoma....
Results from a phase 1 pilot study investigating the use of high intensity focused ultrasound ("HIFU") have shown both safety and efficacy in patients with refractory glaucoma. The clinical research, led by the Hopital Edouard Herriot in Lyon and supported by the company EyeTech Care, showed that patients benefited from a significant (P<0.01) reduction of almost 36% three months after the treatment. The 12-month three-centre prospective interventional study on 12 patients showed a reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) from a mean preoperative value of 37.9±10.7 mm Hg to a mean postoperative value of 27.3±12.4, 25.2±11.3, 25.2±7.7, 24.8±9.8, and 26.3±5.1 mm Hg at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively, and to a mean value of 24.7±8.5 at the last follow-up visit.
Date Posted: 01/12/2011
» EyeCare America launches free eye test initiative for over 65s in US and Puerto Rico....
EyeCare America, a public service programme of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), has launched a free eye exam initiative through-out the US and Puerto Rico for people aged 65 or older. The programme, supported by volunteer ophthalmologists and coinciding with the AAO's month long awareness campaign, "Diabetic Eye Care Awareness Month", aims to highlight the challenges associated with caring for a projected 37 million US citizens with diabetes by 2015. The World Health organization (WHO) estimates that after 15 years of diabetes approximately 2% of patients become blind and approximately 10% develop severe visual impairment.
Date Posted: 15/11/2011
» UK company reports FDA approval of Phase I/II study for Usher's syndrome type 1B....
According to the UK based company Oxford Biomedica (LSE: OXB), the US FDA has given its approval for the initiation of an open label dose escalation Phase I/IIa clinical trial for "UshStat" a gene based treatment for Usher's Syndrome Type 1B. The UshStat Phase I/IIa protocol was previously approved by the US Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) in May. The common form of deaf-blindness affects between 30,000 and 50,000 patients in Europe and the US and is caused by a mutation in the myosin VIIA (MYO7A) gene. To date, there are no therapies or treatments available. The new experimental approach will aim to deliver a corrected version of the myosin VIIA gene in a lentiviral vector to the sub-retinal space. The study, expected to begin before the end of 2011 under the direction of Professor Richard Weleber, will initially recruit up to 18 patients with the disease at the Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon.
Date Posted: 01/11/2011
» Advanced Cell Therapeutics receives approval for first human embryonic stem cell trial in the EU....
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB: ACTC), a specialized biotechnology company based in Santa Monica, California, has announced receipt of approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to initiate a Phase I/II trial using retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) derived from human embryonic stem cells. The therapeutic strategy is aimed at using the RPE cells to treat Stargardt's macular dystrophy, reported to be the most common type of hereditary macular dystrophy with an estimated incidence of 1 in 10,000. A similar Phase I/II trial for the treatment of Stargardt's was in initiated by the same company in the US in July 2011.
Date Posted: 15/10/2011
» 3-year follow up data in 15 patients receiving RPE-65 gene therapy treatment for LCA....
A clinical report on the 3-year follow up data for a gene therapy treatment in patients with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) has concluded the therapy to be "sufficiently safe and substantially efficacious". The study, led by research groups from the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennyslvania and the Center for Gene Therapy, University of Florida, reported on the main outcome measures from an open label dose escalation phase I study of 15 patients. Initial study results were reported contemporaneously with two independent LCA trials in 2008 while the current study provides relatively long-term follow up with clinical data that supports the continued development of gene therapy treatments for retinal degenerations.
Date Posted: 16/09/2011
» Italian clinical study shows potential application of PEA for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP)....
Clinical research from the University of Catania, Italy has demonstrated a positive benefit to glaucoma patients from the oral administration of PEA (palmitoyl-ethanolamide), a shorter and fully saturated fatty acid amide analogue of the endogenous endocannabinoid, anadamide (AEA). PEA is found in most mammalian tissues and is known to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-convulsant properties. The research, conducted as a prospective randomized cross-over clinical trial on 42 patients with either primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH) demonstrated a clear reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) following oral PEA administration (300mg tablets) twice a day for 2 months.
Date Posted: 01/09/2011
» Treatment of retinal degeneration with CNTF shows statistically significant preservation of photorec....
Neurotech Pharmacueticals Inc., (Rhode Island, USA) have reported that their intraocular implantable capsule, which delivers ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) to the back of the eye, has provided statistically significant preservation of photoreceptors in 3 patients. The phase 2 clinical study with the company's product candidate, NT501, was evaluated at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months following surgical implantation. Evaluation using advanced optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) showed that untreated controls had a 2.9% increase in cone spacing and a 9.1% decrease in cone density. Commenting on the results, Dr. Jacque Duncan, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco and lead clinical researcher on the trial, stated, "we are extremely encouraged by the photoreceptor preserving effect of NT-501 seen in this study as well as the usefulness of AOSLO as a diagnostic tool for retinitis pigmentosa progression. Larger studies using AOSLO are urgently needed to confirm the photoreceptor protective effect of NT-501 treatment in patients with retinal degeneration."
Date Posted: 15/08/2011
» First patients undergo embryonic stem cell transplantation for Stargardt's disease and macular degen....
Advanced Cell Technologies, Inc ("ACT", OTCBB: ACTC) of Marlborough, Massachusetts have announced the dosing of the first patients in each of its two Phase I/II clinical trials for Stargardt's macular dystrophy and dry age related macular degeneration. In an outpatient transplantation surgical procedure the patients received a sub-retinal injection containing approximately 50,000 retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The prospective open label studies are designed to test the safety and tolerability of hESC-derived RPE cells and have a primary endpoint at 12 months post-injection. The procedures were performed by Dr. Steven Schwartz MD, Ahmanson Professor of Ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and retinal division chief at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute.
Date Posted: 01/08/2011
» Response to anti-VEGF treatments shown to associate with specific genetic sequences....
Injection of ranibizumab (Lucentis) or bevacizumab (Avastin) are currently the standard treatment for neovascular AMD however, the response to treatment can vary among patients. Advance knowledge regarding which patients are most likely to respond positively may contribute to improved clinical management. Recent clinical studies reported by the Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich and the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland, demonstrate that responders to anti-VEGF treatments may be grouped in reference to specific genetic associations.
Date Posted: 15/07/2011
» French clinicians report on foveal damage in users of the recreational drug, ....
French medics based at ophthalmic clinics in Paris and Marseille have warned of the long-term retinal toxicity risk associated with the use of "poppers" - a recreational drug in wide use since the 1970s. Poppers (sold under brand names including Rush, Jungle Juice, Snappers & Liquid Gold) contain isopropyl nitrite which causes relaxation of smooth muscle tissue and, when inhaled, can induce a warm rush, euphoria and dizziness often employed for the purpose of heightening sensitivity to alcohol, music or sex.
Date Posted: 01/07/2011
» NICE in UK recommends Ozurdex for central vein retinal occlusion (CRVO) ....
The U.K.'s National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE) announced on June 6th that it would be recommending the use of the dexamethasone 0.7g intravitreal implant for the treatment of macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and for branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) where laser photocoagulation has been ineffective or inappropriate. The implant, marketed as Ozurdex (Allergan, Inc.) completed two 6-month prospective double-masked clinical studies in which 1,267 patients with macular edema due to CRVO or BRVO were randomised to receive either sham or intravitreal injections of the implant.
Date Posted: 15/06/2011
» CATT study demonstrates equivalency between Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) at year....
In a long-awaited pronouncement from the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials (CATT) Research Group, 1 year study results have shown that the monthly use of either Avastin (bevacizumab) or Lucentis (ranibizumab) result in the same visual acuity outcome. The results will come as little or no surprise to the vast majority of clinical ophthalmologists in both the US and the EU.
Date Posted: 15/05/2011
» Lucentis Phase III study meets primary end-point in diabetic macular edema....
Summary data from a second Phase III study of Roche's Lucentis (ranibizumab) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) have shown that patients receiving the drug, compared to control subjects, were able to read at least 15 additional letters on an eye chart beyond what they were able to read at the start of the study. No new significant safety findings were observed and the company expects to provide more detailed results at the upcoming EURETINA meeting in London (May 26th-29th).
Date Posted: 17/04/2011
» Alimera shares additional Phase III Iluvien data ahead of re-submitting NDA....
Alimera Sciences Inc (NASDAQ;ALIM) provided additional Phase III data in early February showing that its intravitreal insert ("Iluvien"), which provides sustained sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide, demonstrated significant improvements in the percentage of patients whose BCVA improved by equal or greater than 15 letters from baseline at months 30 and 33, compared to sham control, and non-significant improvements out to month 36 (FAME Study). The data follows up on an FDA letter in December 2010 seeking further analyses of safety and efficacy.
Date Posted: 18/03/2011
» Comparison of OCT systems suggests caution in comparing inter-device data....
A comparative study between four different OCT devices has shown pronounced differences in retinal thickness values. Results of the study, published in the journal Retina (2011, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp 48-55) suggest that due care should be exercised in respect of monitoring and quantifying therapeutically induced effects. The research, conducted at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, indicated that different segmentation algorithms of thickness measurement software may in part explain the divergence between devices. Given the increasing importance of OCT data in treatment indication and follow-up for cases of diabetic macular edema (DME), the findings provide important information for both practicing clinicians and sponsors of clinical trials.
Date Posted: 11/02/2011
» Maternal diabetes may impact on development of the retina in offspring ....
An Australian study has reported the first systematic results of an analysis examining the retina of children whose mothers had diabetes at the time of pregnancy. The research has shown that children from diabetic pregnancies had significantly thinner inner and outer macular thickness and macular volume when compared with children from non-diabetic pregnancies. While the observed thinning was between 5-10um and unlikely to be clinically significant the authors suggest that the finding may have implications for the patho-physiology of diabetic retinopathy (DR) or diabetic macular edema (DME) and potentially relevant to the development of the neurological system in the foetus.
Date Posted: 16/01/2011
» First clinical trial using embryonic stem cells announced for dry AMD treatment ....
Advanced Cell Technologies (ACT), a publicly listed company based in Marlborough, Maine, have announced (November 30th) the filing of an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA to use retinal pigment epithelial (RPE), cells derived human embryonic stem cells (hESC), in a Phase I/II multicentre clinical trial to treat dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is only the second ever trial to use embryonic stem cells for the treatment of a human disease.
Date Posted: 08/12/2010
» Questionnaire measuring quality of vision alone may provide valuable outcome tool....
Researchers based at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, have published research data validating the use of a new questionnaire aimed at assessing the subjective quality of vision alone. The report, using results generated from a sample of 900 participants, concluded that the new instrument provided a standardized measurement of a patient's quality of vision perception before and after surgical or medical intervention. The authors have made the questionnaire and Excel based calculation tool available through the reports corresponding author [McAlinden et al, IOVS, Vol. 51, No. 11, pp 5537].
Date Posted: 02/11/2010
» Increased C-reactive protein and body mass index associates with a reduced likelihood of diabetic re....
Analysis of clinical data gathered through the Singapore Eye Research Institute suggests that people with diabetes who have higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and body mass index (BMI) are less likely to suffer diabetic retinopathy.
Date Posted: 01/10/2010
» iCo Therapeutics recruiting for Phase II DME study....
iCo Therapeutics Inc., a Vancouver based reprofiling development company, have announced their intention to recruit patients for a Phase II DME clinical trial of their proprietary anti-sense therapeutic. The experimental drug, "iCo-007", is a second generation anti-sense RNA molecule designed to target c-Raf kinase mRNA, believed to represent a key upstream target in angiogenesis. In a company press release Dr. Peter Hnik, Chief Medical Officer of iCo Therapeutics stated that "our phase I clinical study indicated encouraging results in patients refractory to other treatment options and now we will be able study drug safety and efficacy in a broader patient population".
Date Posted: 23/08/2010
» First study on the economic costs of visual impairment in Japan....
A research report produced by an Australian economics consulting firm claims to be the first study to quantify the burden of visual impairment in Japan. The research, aimed at policymakers and published in Arch Ophthalmol (Vol. 128, No. 6, pp766-771), reports the direct and indirect healthcare costs attributable to visual impairment. The existence of extensive health and financial data in Japan may now be used to assess and model the economic benefits of new preventive or treatment strategies.
Date Posted: 21/07/2010
» VP of UK's Royal College of Ophthalmologists advises against off-label use of Avastin....
Commentary from the UK's Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) has advised against the off-label use of Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.
Date Posted: 02/06/2010
» IVF assists couple in having a child unaffected by Stargardt disease....
Clinicians and researchers from New York's Columbia University have reported the delivery of a healthy baby girl following the first use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for the screening of at risk embryos for Stargardt's disease. The newborn's parents had sought genetic counselling and had been tested resulting in confirmation that the father carried 2 ABCA4 mutations while the mother carried 1 potentially pathogenic ABCA4 mutation.
Date Posted: 04/05/2010
» New topical drug for DME reports results from a Phase I/II clinical trial....
A multi-centre Phase I/II clinical trial has presented initial results for a new topical drug focused on the treatment of diabetic eye disease. The clinical research, reported by Dr. Peter Campochiaro and colleagues at the Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins, showed that mecamylamine drops applied over a course of 1 to 16 weeks were well tolerated and showed no drug related safety problems.
Date Posted: 16/04/2010
» Publish or perish - insiders advice on how to avoid the rejection slip....
Recent analysis of 662 manuscripts submitted to Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (CEO) have identified the top 7 reasons why manuscript submissions fail to survive the editor's red pen. In an review published in CEO the most common reasons listed for rejection of a
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Global estimates show that almost 16 million people may suffer retinal vein occlusion (RVO) ....
Pooled population studies from Europe, the US, Asia and Australia have shown that approximately 16 million people are estimated to be affected by retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The study by the International Eye Disease Consortium (IEDC) combined individual level data
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Mind the gap - satisfaction with treatment differs between patients and doctors....
Recent research from McGill University and the University of Montreal, Canada has shown that objective measures of visual function following treatment do not necessarily agree with the patients' viewpoint
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness found to be associated with cognitive functioning.....
Researchers based at the Rotterdam Eye Hospital in the Netherlands have announced the first ever results reporting an association between the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and cognitive functioning. The research results showed that a better cognitive performance was significantly associated with a thicker RNFL.
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Multi-centre Phase III clinical trial shows benefits of corticosteroid in reducing vision loss in ce....
A multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial designed to compare 1-mg and 4-mg doses of intravitreal triamcinoclone with standard care for treatment of vision loss associated with macular edema (secondary to perfused CRVO and branch retinal vein occlusion [BRVO]) has reported the benefits of the corticosteroid injections in reducing vision
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Phase 1 dose escalation study on gene therapy treatment for LCA shows importance of early treatment....
A gene therapy treatment of 12 patients between the ages of 8-44 years suffering RPE65-associated Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) has been shown to improve vision in all participants. The report noted that "patients had at least a 2 log unit increase in pupillary light responses and an 8 year old child had nearly the same level of light sensiti
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa with bevacizumab (Avastin)....
A new study by a research group at Bilim University, Istanbul, has reported positive results in a cohort of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients treated with bevacizumab (Avastin).
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Viral delivery particles may persist in the retina for up to 6 years....
Recent advances in retinal gene therapy, notably in three concurrent human trials addressing LCA (Leber's congenital amurosis), have focused significant attention on the wider potential to apply such technologies to other diseases, both within and beyond the field of ophthalmology.
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Regional retinal damage in Usher syndrome patients may guide treatment strategy....
A US study led by the Scheie Eye Institute in Pennsylvania has identified regions of normal and damaged retinal architecture in a cohort of USH1B (Usher syndrome type 1B) patients with MYO7A mutations.
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Life Technologies Corp schedules $1,000 genome before the end of 2012 ....
Life Technologies Corporation, a Carlsbad, California based company, has announced the launch of their bench top "Ion Proton Sequencer", a pH-based sequencing device designed to sequence an entire human genome in a single day for $1,000. The device, retailing at $149,000, is aimed at expanding the market for genomic sequencing in both research and clinical settings. The underlying technology dispenses with optical dyes and camera or laser based detection systems and uses a recently developed DNA synthesis technology on a massively parallel semiconductor-sensing device or "ion chip" containing ion sensitive, field-effect transistor based sensors. The technology detects the release of single hydrogen ions upon incorporation of a single nucleotide into a growing strand while the use of a disposable integrated circuit fabricated, using standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor processes, dispenses with expensive detection systems and piggy-backs onto a well established semi-conductor infrastructure with the potential to "bring sequencing to the masses".
Date Posted: 16/01/2012
» Valeant Pharmaceuticals International makes hostile takeover bid for eye care business, Ista Pharmaceuticals....
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (TSX: VRX; NYSE: VRX), an Ontario-based pharmaceuticals company with an estimated value in excess of $13 billion, has made public an unsolicited offer to acquire the ophthalmic business, Ista Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ISTA), based in Irvine California, at a price of $327 million (including Ista debt of $13 million). The offer of $6.50 per share in cash represents an approximate 67% premium on Ista's closing price of $3.89 per share prior to disclosure of the offer by Valeant. The move by Valeant now sets the stage for a battle between Valeant and Ista's management, which may be ultimately adjudicated by Ista's shareholders. Discussions between the companies are thought to have been in progress since September with Ista formally rejecting the approach on December 14th describing the offer as "grossly inadequate".
Date Posted: 01/01/2012
» VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies announces first patient to receive Implantable Miniature Telescope....
VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies (Saratoga, California) have announced that their FDA-approved Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) has been implanted into the first patient. The IMT device is indicated for monocular implantation in patients 75 years of older who are diagnosed with stable severe to profound visual impairment caused by bilateral central scotomas associated with end-stage AMD. According to the company the device is "smaller than a pea" and can be implanted in one eye in an outpatient surgical procedure. The device is designed to render enlarged central vision images over a wide area of the retina to improve central vision, leaving the non-operated eye for peripheral vision, mobility and orientation.
Date Posted: 16/12/2011
» AGTC receives $1.5M boost from Foundation Fighting Blindness to progress gene therapy for X-linked retinoschisis....
A Florida based clinical stage biotechnology company - Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC) has announced the receipt of $1.5M in funding from the US Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). The investment will be used by the company to advance a pre-clinical trial in animal models of a gene therapy strategy to deliver a sustainable treatment for patients with X-Linked retinoschisis (XLRS). The proposed pre-clinical study will be designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a gene therapy treatment for the disease, estimated to affect over 35,000 patients in the US and Europe. The company will co-ordinate the research in collaboration with Dr. David Wilson at the Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute and Dr. William Hauswirth at the University of Florida.
Date Posted: 01/12/2011
» iScience Interventional announces micro-catheter supply deal with J&J for cell therapy AMD trial ....
iScience Interventional, a private device and imaging company in Menlo Park, California, have announced the execution of a clinical and commercial supply agreement with Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development LLC. The agreement will govern the provision of iScience's "iTrack 275" micro-catheter device for use by J&J's Centocor division in its' cell therapy trial, CNTO 2476, for the treatment of atrophic AMD. The micro-catheter device is inserted through a sclerotomy and choroidal fistula with a cannula to dispense a sodium hyaluronate solution creating a retinal bleb. An illuminated beacon at the tip of the micro-catheter allows visualization through the pupil facilitating delivery of umbilical derived cells.
Date Posted: 15/11/2011
» Roche sees Lucentis sales increase and announces data from Phase III HARBOR trial ....
Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) has reported that 3Q11 US sales of Lucentis (ranibizumab) grew by 17% to CHF359M/US$392M. The increase in sales occurs against the backdrop of a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in May 2011 by the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials (CATT) Research Group which showed that off-label use of the oncology drug, Avastin (bevacizumab), was non-inferior to Lucentis in the treatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD). The 1-year study results showed that the monthly use of either Avastin (bevacizumab) or Lucentis (ranibizumab) resulted in the same visual acuity outcome and, as such, had the potential to increase the more cost effective off-label use of Avastin. The increase in Lucentis sales however, suggests that other factors may be impacting on clinical use.
Date Posted: 01/11/2011
» Optos, plc unveils next generation desktop imaging device at American Academy of Optometry meeting ....
UK company Optos, plc (LSE: OPTS) has announced its next generation imaging device, branded "Daytona", at the Boston meeting of the American Academy of Optometry. Details of the new device have been made available on the company's website (www.optosnextgen.com) and include some preliminary clinician feedback with further clinical studies planned. The new "Daytona" device claims to incorporate an improved ultra wide-field imaging modality, and is marketed as smaller and more ergonomic than previous devices. The imaging tool, an advance on previous models, aims to provide a wide-field image of the retina in a panoramic view for the purpose of improving disease detection by clinical exam. The company has been designing and developing retinal imaging devices since 1992 to produce an "optomap" image, allowing for an ultra-wide view of the retina to facilitate early detection and diagnosis of conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, retinal holes/retinal tears and age-related macular degeneration.
Date Posted: 15/10/2011
» VisionCare's implantable telescope secures reimbursement ....
VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc., a specialty medical device company based in Saratoga California, have announced that the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency within the US Dept. of Health & Human Services (DHHS), have granted transitional pass-through payment status and a clinician billing code for the company's Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT). The IMT prosthetic device is the first FDA-approved implantable medical device for improving vision in patients with advanced irreversible age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the grant for payment status and billing code now enables outpatient facilities to obtain reimbursement for the IMT for covered procedures.
Date Posted: 16/09/2011
» A new ophthalmic company - KalVista Pharmaceuticals - raises £8M to fund DME therapies....
A new UK-based ophthalmology company - KalVista Pharmaceuticals - has announced the completion of an £8 million Series A funding round led by Novo A/S (Novo Nordisk) and SV Life Sciences, a life science venture capital investment firm. The new company, founded by Dr. Lloyd Paul Aiello, Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School and Dr. Edward P. Feener, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, will be supported by Mr. Andrew Crockett, CEO and will initially focus on the development of novel small molecule inhibitors of plasma kallikrein for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).
Date Posted: 01/09/2011
» iCo Therapeutics enters license deal with Immune Pharmaceuticals....
iCo Therapeutics (TSX-V: ICO, Vancouver, Canada) has announced the execution of a licensing deal with Immune Pharmaceuticals (Ness-Ziona, Israel) for Bertilimumab (iCo-008) for systemic uses. iCo-008, also known as Bertilimumab or CAT-213, is a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting eotaxin-1, a chemo- attractant for eosinophils and a ligand for chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3). The mAb was originally licensed by iCo Therapeutics from AstraZeneca/MedImmune and has already undergone clinical trial evaluation in a severe allergy indication. There are currently plans to conduct exploratory studies for the mAb in wet AMD and a possible phase 2 study in severe ocular allergies (vernal & atopic keratoconjunctivitis).
Date Posted: 15/08/2011
» Pfizer withdraws application for an extension of the indication for Macugen....
Pfizer, Inc (NYSE: PFE), New York, has notified the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of its decision to withdraw an application to extend the therapeutic indication for its anti-VEGF pegaptanib sodium drug (Macugen). The company had submitted an application to extend Macugen's marketing authorisation to include the treatment of visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME) in June 2010. The decision was made following the receipt of an official letter from the EMA stating that in the view of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) the drug did not have a positive risk-benefit profile for the particular indication sought.
Date Posted: 01/08/2011
» Regeneron Pharmaceutical's pricing strategy may be key to success ....
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:REGN), Tarrytown, New York, will undergo an FDA priority review of its VEGF Trap Eye (recently renamed "Eylea aflibercept") on August 20th, the outcome of which will be closely watched by many market analysts. The experimental drug for the treatment of neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD) recently demonstrated non-inferiority to ranibizumab (Lucentis) in the Phase III (VIEW) trial bringing it into direct market competition with Roche/Genentech, Novartis AG and others. In addition, results published in April from the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials (CATT) Research Group indicated that administration of ranibizumab, as needed, appeared to be as effective as monthly administration. The market is now set for a highly competitive period in which Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea (subject to marketing authorisation) will compete on price and position with specific market segmentation possible.
Date Posted: 15/07/2011
» Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the University of Birmingham publishes data on anti-apoptotic result....
In a collaboration with the University of Birmingham, Quark Pharmaceuticals, a Californian based biotech company with research facilities at the Weismann Science Park in Israel, has reported successful results of an anti-apoptotic treatment to halt retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. RGC death, resulting in vision loss and blindness, has been associated with several ocular pathologies including ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) and glaucoma.
Date Posted: 01/07/2011
» Regeneron & Bayer file marketing authorisation application for VEGF Trap Eye....
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals & Bayer Healthcare have announced the submission of a marketing authorisation application (MAA) for VEGF Trap Eye for the treatment of neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD). The announcement follows less than two months after the companies announced plans to initiate two Phase III trials of VEGF Trap Eye for diabetic macular edema and highlights the significant commercial attraction of anti-VEGF plays in the retinal market.
Date Posted: 15/06/2011
» Lpath Inc initiates Phase 1b/2a trial for iSONEP in retinal detachment and vasculopathy secondary to....
Lpath, Inc, a San Diego based therapeutic antibody company quoted on the US OTCBB (LPTN) has announced the initiation of enrolment for its anti-angiogenic antibody product, "iSONEP". The Phase 1b/2a study is designed to treat retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) secondary to wet AMD or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). The drug, built from the company's proprietary "Immune Y2" drug discovery platform is an ocular formulation of a monoclonal antibody raised against sphingosine-1 phosphate, a bioactive signalling lipid. The therapeutic approach is designed to target the angiogenesis, inflammation and scarring associated with wet AMD.
Date Posted: 15/05/2011
» Quark announces a revision to an siRNA Pfizer agreement on diabetic macular edema....
Quark Pharmaceuticals, a Californian based RNAi specialised biotech company, has announced changes to a Pfizer collaborative research agreement following receipt of results from a randomized Phase II clinical study. Quark's and Pfizer's Global Licensing Agreement is understood to cover the RTP801 gene and modifiers thereof, with the intention for the companies to develop therapeutic strategies for a range of indications, including the use of siRNA to down regulate RTP801 expression in AMD and DME patients.
Date Posted: 17/04/2011
» Alexion Pharmaceuticals closes a $111 million cash deal for Taligen assets....
Alexion Pharmaceuticals has announced an all stock purchase of Taligen Therapeutics, a privately held company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The all cash upfront deal for $111M may reflect, in part, a considerable market interest in potential AMD compounds, including those at an early pre-clinical stage. Additional contingent payments of approximately $267M could be earned upon reaching various clinical efficacy and product approval milestones in the US and EU markets for a number of key products.
Date Posted: 18/03/2011
» Regeneron & Bayer announce clinical results in CRVO & DME with VEGF Trap-Eye....
Results of a Phase 3 study in CRVO and a Phase 2 study in DME have provided a positive outcome for Regeneron's VEGF Trap-Eye experimental compound, in addition to earning the company $20M in milestone payments from Bayer Healthcare. The CRVO trial showed that 56.1% of patients treated with VEGF Trap-Eye gained at least 15 letters of vision compared to the control group at 12.3% while the Phase 2 DME study showed that patients in all the VEGF Trap-Eye dose regimens either maintained or increased vision gains by the end of 1 year.
Date Posted: 11/02/2011
» QLT obtains orphan drug designation for retinitis pigmentosa treatment....
QLT Inc., a Canadian based biotechnology company, has announced that its oral synthetic retinoid product for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa has been granted orphan drug designation. The drug had previously obtained orphan drug designation from the FDA for the treatment of Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA).
Date Posted: 16/01/2011
» EURETINA launches new Innovation Awards for 2011....
December 1st- EURETINA have launched an exciting new initiative to support innovation across Europe in the development of new technologies in the field of retinal medicine. The EURETINA Innovation Awards for 2011 opened for applications on December 1st and will remain open until March 14th, 2011. The competition is open to all innovators with promising ideas on how to progress any aspect of patient care including new treatment strategies, diagnosis, instrumentation development, surgical tools and medical devices.
Date Posted: 08/12/2010
» Quark initiates RNAi Phase I dosing for ocular neuro - protection....
Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc., has announced the dosing of a first patient in their on-going Phase I study of QPI-1007, a synthetic siRNA targeting the pro-apoptotic gene caspase-2. The company has developed the therapeutic as a neuro-protectant for the treatment of sudden vision loss associated with non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Caspase 2 is one of the main effector caspases responsible for the choreographed cell death, known as apoptosis, which characterises the final degenerative process in NAION, glaucoma and a number of retinal degenerations. NAION is thought to affect approximately 8,000 patients in the US and there are no current treatments available.
Date Posted: 02/11/2010
» Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation receives $1M in funding award from FDA ....
Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, a private company based in Alachua, Florida, has announced the receipt of $1M in funding for phase II human trials in patients with leber's congenital amaurosis using proprietary AAV vectors. The company aims to use the funding from the FDA Orphan Drugs Program to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an AAV delivered treatment for leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA). The phase II trial is to be conducted at the University of Massachusetts Medical School under the guidance of Dr. Shalesh Kaushal and Dr. Tim Stout (based at the Oregon Health and Science University).
Date Posted: 01/10/2010
» Topcon purchase retina and glaucoma businesses from OptiMedica....
On August 11th Topcon Corporation of Tokyo announced the signing of an agreement to purchase the glaucoma and retina related assets of OptiMedica Inc (Santa Clara, California). The purchase follows on from a successful distribution partnership between the two companies for OptiMedica's proprietary PASCAL (PAttern SCAn Laser) photocoagulation system. Commenting on the deal Hiroshi Fukuzawa of Topcon stated that demographics and continued increase in the incidence of diabetic and age-related eye disease ensures that "the therapeutic laser market continues to be a major opportunity in ophthalmology".
Date Posted: 23/08/2010
» Potential for off-label use of Lucentis following DRCR clinical results....
The journal Nature Medicine have reported that a number of ocular researchers have raised criticisms of a diabetic macular oedema (DME) clinical trial for using Lucentis but not Avastin (bevacizumab). Avastin, currently used off-label by many ophthalmologists as it may be up to 20 times cheaper per dose than Lucentis, was not included in the clinical study.
Date Posted: 21/07/2010
» Lucentis (ranibizumab) plus laser treatment for DME raises bar for new therapies....
A double blind Phase III trial in 691 patients has reported that 0.5mg Lucentis plus prompt or deferred laser therapy had a significant improvement in BCVA score compared to laser therapy alone (9 vs. 3 letters, p<0.001). The randomized trial, supported by Allergan and Genentech, compared ranibizumab plus prompt or deferred laser with triamcinoclone plus prompt laser for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). As a result, Lucentis may become part of the standard of care for the treatment of DME and become incorporated into national treatment guidelines by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Date Posted: 02/06/2010
» Diabetic macular edema company raises $72 million on NASDAQ....
Alimera Sciences Inc (NASDAQ:ALIM), headquartered in Georgia, Atlanta have raised $72.1 million through the sale of 6.6 million shares. The specialist ophthalmics company possesses a lead compound, "Iluvien" for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The Iluvien product is a new intravitreal insert (3.5mm in length X 0.37mm in diameter) that may be surgically inserted with a 25 gauge needle after which it slowly releases a very low dose corticosteroid fluocinoclone acetonide directly into the vitreous for up to three years.
Date Posted: 04/05/2010
» First iPhone application for ophthalmic image management reaches market....
Topcon Medical Systems Inc. (Paramus, New Jersey) have launched a dedicated iPhone application providing a mobile version of the "EyeRoute Image Management" software. The new app became available on the Apple iTunes website on April 8th, 2010. Clinicians who use the EyeRoute software in their practice are now able to access images and reports securely from any 3GS compatible iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
Date Posted: 16/04/2010
» Potentia Pharmaceuticals licenses complement pathway inhibitor for macular degeneration ....
Potentia Pharmaceuticals, a speciality biotechnology company focused on treatments for AMD, have announced a licensing and share purchase option agreement with Alcon, Inc (ACL:NYSE). The agreements provide a license from Potentia to Alcon Research Ltd for the development of
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Novartis announces full takeover plans of Alcon ....
Novartis has proposed a full purchase of Alcon, Inc (ALC:NYSE) for a reported $39.3 billion bringing the total cash price of its Alcon acquisition to just under $50 billion (Novartis had previously bought a 25% stake in the company in April 2008 for $10.4 billion).
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» US medical insurance firm shows no difference between Avastin and Lucentis treatments....
A study comparing the use of bevacizumab (marketed as Avastin) and ranibizumab (marketed as Lucentis) has shown that the two "wet" AMD treatments are equally effective at halting vision loss. The study, conducted by Dr. Donald S. Fong of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Roche / Genentech sign licensing and development deal to access drug delivery formulation for Lucent....
SurModics of Minnesota announced the completion of a License and Development Agreement with Roche / Genentech Inc for the use of SurModics' proprietary microparticulate drug delivery technology. The deal provides for Roche/Genentech to exclusively develop and commercilaize a sustained drug delivery formulation of Lucentis (ranibizumab).
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Gene Signal's GS-101 results show safe and effective inhibition of blood vessel growth....
Gene Signal [www.genesignal.com] based in Lausanne, Switzerland, have reported interim results of a randomized Phase II clinical study on their lead drug candidate, GS-101. The drug, an antisense oligonucleotide targeting a component of the VEGF pathway, is being used to treat corneal graft associated neovascularisation.
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» New handheld imaging device finds early signs of retinopathy in premature infants....
Researchers based at Duke University Medical Centre, North Carolina have developed a new technology using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to produce a three-dimensional picture of the back of the eye. The device appears capable of finding early signs of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and may radically alter the way clinicia
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» French and US companies combine efforts on retinal vein occlusion-induced macular edema....
Fovea Pharmaceuticals (Paris, France) and Dyax Corporation (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) have announced the execution of an exclusive license agreement for the development and commercialisation of a recombinant small protein for therapeutic application to retinal diseases.
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Paloma Pharmaceuticals announces a ....
Paloma Pharmaceuticals have announced positive results with a small molecule inhibitor of the P13K/Akt/mTOR pathway implicated in a wide variety of biological responses.
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Quark Pharmaceuticals presents results with siRNA for treatment of DMA and wet AMD....
Quark Pharmaceuticals, based in Freemont California, have announced preliminary results of a study using a chemically modified siRNA to down regulate a gene known as "RTP801", identified through a gene discovery programme at the company's research facility.
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
» Major breakthrough in understanding of AMD pathology shows link between complement factor H (CFH) and oxidative stress ....
Major breakthrough in understanding of AMD pathology shows link between complement factor H (CFH) and oxidative stress
A research team, based at the Centre for Molecular Medicine (CeMM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, has achieved a major breakthrough in the understanding of how certain alleles of complement factor H (CFH) increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The report on the research team's findings, published in the journal Nature, fill in a considerable part of the CFH story originally discovered by a number of research groups in 2005. The new research identifies malondialdehyde ("MDA") - a decomposition product of lipid peroxidation - as a ligand of CFH which may now explain how the original risk association operates at a molecular level. More critically, the new research shows how normal CFH may prevent MDA-mediated inflammation in RPE and macrophage cells giving rise to opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Date Posted: 16/01/2012
» Major breakthrough in understanding of AMD pathology shows link between complement factor H (CFH) and oxidative stress ....
A research team, based at the Centre for Molecular Medicine (CeMM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, has achieved a major breakthrough in the understanding of how certain alleles of complement factor H (CFH) increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The report on the research team's findings, published in the journal Nature, fill in a considerable part of the CFH story originally discovered by a number of research groups in 2005. The new research identifies malondialdehyde ("MDA") - a decomposition product of lipid peroxidation - as a ligand of CFH which may now explain how the original risk association operates at a molecular level. More critically, the new research shows how normal CFH may prevent MDA-mediated inflammation in RPE and macrophage cells giving rise to opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Date Posted: 01/01/2012
» Major breakthrough in understanding of AMD pathology shows link between complement factor H (CFH) and oxidative stress ....
A research team, based at the Centre for Molecular Medicine (CeMM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, has achieved a major breakthrough in the understanding of how certain alleles of complement factor H (CFH) increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The report on the research team's findings, published in the journal Nature, fill in a considerable part of the CFH story originally discovered by a number of research groups in 2005. The new research identifies malondialdehyde ("MDA") â€" a decomposition product of lipid peroxidation - as a ligand of CFH which may now explain how the original risk association operates at a molecular level. More critically, the new research shows how normal CFH may prevent MDA-mediated inflammation in RPE and macrophage cells giving rise to opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Date Posted: 16/12/2011
» ....
A crucial event in many degenerative retinopathies is the triggering of a molecular cascade that brings about the death of key neuronal cells. This "active" form of cell death, referred to as "apoptosis", has been well documented in retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma and is consequently the focus of numerous therapeutic investigations aimed at inhibiting such final degenerative steps. In a recent collaboration between the University of Birmingham's School of Clinical & Experimental Medicine and Quark Pharmaceuticals, a Californian and Israeli based biotech company, researchers have reported successful results of an anti-apoptotic treatment designed to halt retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in animal models. RGC death, resulting in vision loss and blindness, has been associated with several ocular pathologies including ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) and glaucoma. If predictive of what might also be achieved in human eyes the results provide significant promise for Quark's clinical studies using the same therapeutic approach.
Date Posted: 01/12/2011
» ....
A crucial event in many degenerative retinopathies is the triggering of a molecular cascade that brings about the death of key neuronal cells. This "active" form of cell death, referred to as "apoptosis", has been well documented in retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma and is consequently the focus of numerous therapeutic investigations aimed at inhibiting such final degenerative steps. In a recent collaboration between the University of Birmingham's School of Clinical & Experimental Medicine and Quark Pharmaceuticals, a Californian and Israeli based biotech company, researchers have reported successful results of an anti-apoptotic treatment designed to halt retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in animal models. RGC death, resulting in vision loss and blindness, has been associated with several ocular pathologies including ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) and glaucoma. If predictive of what might also be achieved in human eyes the results provide significant promise for Quark's clinical studies using the same therapeutic approach.
Date Posted: 15/11/2011
» ....
A crucial event in many degenerative retinopathies is the triggering of a molecular cascade that brings about the death of key neuronal cells. This "active" form of cell death, referred to as "apoptosis", has been well documented in retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma and is consequently the focus of numerous therapeutic investigations aimed at inhibiting such final degenerative steps. In a recent collaboration between the University of Birmingham's School of Clinical & Experimental Medicine and Quark Pharmaceuticals, a Californian and Israeli based biotech company, researchers have reported successful results of an anti-apoptotic treatment designed to halt retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in animal models. RGC death, resulting in vision loss and blindness, has been associated with several ocular pathologies including ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) and glaucoma. If predictive of what might also be achieved in human eyes the results provide significant promise for Quark's clinical studies using the same therapeutic approach.
Date Posted: 01/11/2011
» ....
A crucial event in many degenerative retinopathies is the triggering of a molecular cascade that brings about the death of key neuronal cells. This "active" form of cell death, referred to as "apoptosis", has been well documented in retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma and is consequently the focus of numerous therapeutic investigations aimed at inhibiting such final degenerative steps. In a recent collaboration between the University of Birmingham's School of Clinical & Experimental Medicine and Quark Pharmaceuticals, a Californian and Israeli based biotech company, researchers have reported successful results of an anti-apoptotic treatment designed to halt retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in animal models. RGC death, resulting in vision loss and blindness, has been associated with several ocular pathologies including ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) and glaucoma. If predictive of what might also be achieved in human eyes the results provide significant promise for Quark's clinical studies using the same therapeutic approach.
Date Posted: 15/10/2011
» Formation of a self-assembling retina from embryonic stem cells is a game changer ....
Remarkable research has shown for the first time the formation of a three-dimensional retina in a laboratory dish beginning with no more than a culture of floating embryonic stem cells. While sounding more like science fiction than fact, the breakthrough is set to fundamentally impact on both academic studies of retinal biology and on the pharmacological testing of new compounds and treatment strategies for a broad range of retinal disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa and age related macular degeneration.
Date Posted: 16/09/2011
» Formation of a self-assembling retina from embryonic stem cells is a game changer ....
Remarkable research has shown for the first time the formation of a three-dimensional retina in a laboratory dish beginning with no more than a culture of floating embryonic stem cells. While sounding more like science fiction than fact, the breakthrough is set to fundamentally impact on both academic studies of retinal biology and on the pharmacological testing of new compounds and treatment strategies for a broad range of retinal disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa and age related macular degeneration.
Date Posted: 01/09/2011
» Formation of a self-assembling retina from embryonic stem cells is a game changer ....
Remarkable research has shown for the first time the formation of a three-dimensional retina in a laboratory dish beginning with no more than a culture of floating embryonic stem cells. While sounding more like science fiction than fact, the breakthrough is set to fundamentally impact on both academic studies of retinal biology and on the pharmacological testing of new compounds and treatment strategies for a broad range of retinal disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa and age related macular degeneration.
Date Posted: 15/08/2011
» Timing is critical when it comes to cone cell transplantation....
Timing is critical when it comes to cone cell transplantation
Researchers from University College London and the Moorfields Eye Hospital have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of cone cell transplantation into the adult retina. The research used embryonic and post-natal sourced photoreceptor cells as the donor population for transplantation into two animal models of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). The authors of the report presented data supporting cone cell integration into wild type and degenerating retinae leading to the prospect of a future therapeutic application for certain forms of human blindness.
Date Posted: 01/08/2011
» Timing is critical when it comes to cone cell transplantation....
Researchers from University College London and the Moorfields Eye Hospital have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of cone cell transplantation into the adult retina. The research used embryonic and post-natal sourced photoreceptor cells as the donor population for transplantation into two animal models of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). The authors of the report presented data supporting cone cell integration into wild type and degenerating retinae leading to the prospect of a future therapeutic application for certain forms of human blindness.
Date Posted: 15/07/2011
» Inhibiting cell death with a small peptide may find application in a number of retinal degenerations....
Researchers from the Kellogg Eye Centre at the University of Michigan have conducted significant research on the use of a novel peptide to reduce the level of photoreceptor cell death associated with retinal detachment. The mode of cell death in retinal detachment is similar to many other types of retinal degeneration in which cells die by a process known as "apoptosis". As such, the findings from the research have the potential to extend photoreceptor cell survival not only in cases of retinal detachment but additionally in cases involving photoreceptor cell loss including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Date Posted: 01/07/2011
» Inhibiting cell death with a small peptide may find application in a number of retinal degenerations....
Researchers from the Kellogg Eye Centre at the University of Michigan have conducted significant research on the use of a novel peptide to reduce the level of photoreceptor cell death associated with retinal detachment. The mode of cell death in retinal detachment is similar to many other types of retinal degeneration in which cells die by a process known as "apoptosis". As such, the findings from the research have the potential to extend photoreceptor cell survival not only in cases of retinal detachment but additionally in cases involving photoreceptor cell loss including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Date Posted: 15/06/2011
» Ancient bacterial ....
Swiss researchers have reported the restoration of light sensitivity in animal models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using an ancient protein isolated from archaebacteria. The protein, "halorhodopsin", is a light activated chloride pump that was used by the researchers to bypass the normal opsin found in cone photoreceptors. In patients suffering RP, rod photoreceptor cell death generally precedes cone cell death however, while remaining cones survive, there may be an opportunity to maintain a level of visual function by transferring the light activated halorhodopsin into cone cells. If the cones maintain the ability to process signals to second order neurons then stimulation of the normal visual circuitry may sustain functional vision even in a damaged retina [Science, Vol. 329, pp413-417].
Date Posted: 15/05/2011
» Research shows potential for imaging of Alzheimer's disease plaques through the retina....
Researchers based at the Cedars-Sinai Medical centre in Los Angeles have demonstrated the detection of A-beta plaques in post mortem retinas from individuals suspected and confirmed to have Alzheimer's disease. The study, led by Drs. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui and Daniel L. Farkas, suggests that a non-invasive in vivo imaging of a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease may be feasible through retinal imaging. Once validated in the retinas of live Alzheimer's patients the technology may provide a significant clinical tool in assessing patients for diagnosis, monitoring and response to medical treatment.
Date Posted: 17/04/2011
» Research shows potential for imaging of Alzheimer's disease plaques through the retina....
Researchers based at the Cedars-Sinai Medical centre in Los Angeles have demonstrated the detection of A beta plaques in post mortem retinas from individuals suspected and confirmed to have Alzheimer's disease. The study, led by Drs. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui and Daniel L. Farkas, suggests that a non-invasive in vivo imaging of a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease may be feasible through retinal imaging. Once validated in the retinas of live Alzheimer's patients the technology may provide a significant clinical tool in assessing patients for diagnosis, monitoring and response to medical treatment.
Date Posted: 18/03/2011
» Anti-apoptotic approach targeting photoreceptor cell death may restores visual function ....
A collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Florida and the University of California (San Francisco and San Diego) have successfully reported the restoration of visual function in an animal model of dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). The research is the first of its kind to employ an anti-apoptotic gene therapy approach focused on over-expressing "BiP" - a protein chaperone known to be involved in cellular stress signalling. Restoration of visual function and a preservation of the photoreceptor cell population provide encouraging data for the future anti-apoptotic approach to treating retinal degenerations.
Date Posted: 11/02/2011
» Stem cell therapy poised to advance treatment of retinal degeneration and vascular pathology....
Research has demonstrated the capacity for systemically injected stem cells to preserve photoreceptors, maintain visual function and rescue vascular pathology. The exciting developments, reported in the online journal PloSONE (Wang & Lu et al, Vol. 5, Iss. 2, e9200; www.plosone.org), show that a simple systemic injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may soon find clinical application across a range of retinal pathologies including, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). The achievements represent a significant milestone in the potential treatment of several retinal disorders and additionally present a strategy to develop a "one-size-fits-all" approach through the targeting of common characteristics found among many retinal diseases.
Date Posted: 16/01/2011
» Stem cell production of functional RPE cells facilitates therapeutic development....
One of the biggest challenges in converting the promise of stem cell therapies into clinical use is to define the elixir that directs the embryonic stem cell to produce the desired fully differentiated specialised cell type. However, following significant tinkering and a little luck, researchers at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centre in Jerusalem have reported the production of fully differentiated functioning RPE cells, cultured in the lab and delivered to animal models. Such findings in the field of stem cell therapies for ocular disease represent a significant milestone on the road to clinical use. Dysfunctional and degenerating RPE cells are found in several retinal disorders including Best disease, sub-types of RP and in AMD, all of which may stand to benefit if the technology can be developed for human application.
Date Posted: 08/12/2010
» Treating colour blindness with gene therapy shifts long held beliefs.....
Recent research has demonstrated that colour blindness may be capable of rescue by a simple sub-retinal injection of the genetic sequence for the missing photopigment. A research team, based at the University of Washington, have comprehensively shown that animals, previously documented to be colour-blind, are capable of colour discrimination within 20 weeks of treatment. The research not only adds optimism to the field of gene therapy for many other retinal disorders but also suggests an encouraging level of plasticity in how the brain manages new information.
Date Posted: 02/11/2010
» Research illuminates mystery of cone death in retinitis pigmentosa....
Research conducted at Harvard Medical School has provided a fresh perspective on why healthy cells die in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This long-standing puzzle may now be resolved through an improved understanding of how cones receive nutrition within the retina. A comprehensive series of experiments have shown that disturbance of an insulin-associated pathway in cone photoreceptor cells can lead to their un-timely death. The finding is of major significance due to the potential to target this pathway and thereby devise a treatment strategy that could benefit an estimated 1.5 million people who lose their sight annually from RP.
Date Posted: 01/10/2010
» Largest gene in eye may cause most of retinitis pigmentosa....
A major research achievement by British and Spanish researchers has reported the source of a series of genetic mutations suspected to cause a large proportion of recessively inherited retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The research has additionally uncovered the largest active gene yet to be found in the eye and the fifth largest in the human body. The finding dramatically increases the volume of information now catalogued on this debilitating group of retinopathies and, since its publication, half a dozen further studies have confirmed the role of the new gene in the aetiology of RP. The report, published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics [Vol. 40, No. 11, pp 1285-1287] may likely lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Date Posted: 23/08/2010
» Not just in the genes - check your postcode for risk factors for glaucoma....
Environmental factors have long been known to interact on an individual's genes. The medical literature is replete with case studies of twins and siblings that share either all or half of their genome but often suffer very distinct medical conditions. One of the reasons behind such phenomena is a differential influence of diverse environmental factors - ranging from different micro-environments within the womb to diet, lifestyle and geography. Research within a population of glaucoma patients has revealed a correlation between the extent of visual field loss and a patient's postcode. As remarkable as it may sound an analysis of the details shows that such a finding is not only predictable but also to be expected across the globe.
Date Posted: 21/07/2010
» HIV protease inhibitors may find use in treatment of retinal degeneration....
Protease inhibitors, routinely used in the treatment of HIV infection may soon provide neuro- protection against cell death in the retina. Research, conducted at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard Medical School, has shown that there may be an opportunity to slow the loss of photoreceptor cells in disorders characterised by apoptotic cell death. The research findings obtained with clinically approved drugs may have significant implications for the treatment of common ocular diseases including age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Date Posted: 02/06/2010
» Stem cells may be used to ferry therapeutics to diseased retina....
Researchers at Imperial College London have shown that stem cells may be used as a delivery vehicle for therapeutics designed to treat retinal degenerations. The novel findings, reported in the journal Molecular Vision (15:962-973), have demonstrated that embryonic stem cells engineered to secrete a neuroprotectant provide a beneficial effect for at least three months after injection.
Date Posted: 04/05/2010
» US research illuminates mystery of cone death in retinitis pigmentosa....
Research conducted at Harvard Medical School has provided a fresh perspective on why healthy cells die in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This long-standing puzzle may now be resolved through an improved understanding of how cones receive nutrition within the retina. A comprehensive series of experiments have shown that disturbance of an insulin-associated pathway in cone photoreceptor cells can lead to their un-timely death. The finding is of major significance due to the potential to target this pathway and thereby devise a treatment strategy that could benefit an estimated 1.5 million people who lose their sight annually from RP.
Date Posted: 16/04/2010
» Treating colour blindness with gene therapy shifts long held beliefs.....
New research has demonstrated that colour blindness may be capable of rescue by a simple sub-retinal injection of the genetic sequence for the missing photopigment. A research team, based at the University of Washington, have comprehensively shown that animals, previously
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
» Mother Nature never fails to impress - nuclear architecture within the retina....
A remarkable paper published in the prestigious journal Cell is set to revise long held assumptions on how genes may be organised within the nucleus of cells. A collaborative research team comprising German, UK and Canadian scientists have shown for the first time that the organisation of chromosomes within mouse rod photoreceptor cells is not onl
Date Posted: 04/11/2009
» Ancient cells keep modern humans ticking over....
New research from a team of neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins have shown how recently discovered light sensors in the eye capture light and communicate with the brain. These "new" type of sensors appear to have more in common with very ancient life forms on Earth and research into their biology may soon provide fascinating information on mood chang
Date Posted: 10/09/2009
Dear EURETINA Members,
A very warm welcome to the February 1st 2012 edition of EURETINA's web-based digital magazine, "EURETINA Brief".
EURETINA are delighted to continue our delivery of up to date summary briefs on a range of topics of interest to retinal specialists across Europe. This resource is designed to accommodate the very busy schedules of all our members by providing them with a short overview of some new developments and announcements in our field over recent weeks.
In this issue you will notice the incorporation of a feedback section where you can comment on any of the news items or articles under discussion. Previous articles and issues can be found in the archive section on the left hand panel.
The current issue highlights a number of recent developments including new research published in the journal Human Gene Therapy demonstrating rescue of a rare retinal degeneration caused by mutations of the MFRP (membrane-type frizzled-related protein) gene; a first report on the 4-month follow up of two patients who received sub-retinal injections of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived RPE - a first of its kind study study, led by Prof. Steven Schwartz at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA and, finally; an announcement by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc of a non-exclusive license and partial settlement with Genentech related to US sales of the recently launched Eylea product (aflibercept).
Finally, our feature bio-ophthalmology article reports on exciting research from a team, based at the Centre for Molecular Medicine (CeMM), Austrian Academy of Sciences, highlighting a major breakthrough in the understanding of how certain alleles of complement factor H (CFH) increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The new research identifies malondialdehyde (MDA) - a decomposition product of lipid peroxidation - as a ligand of CFH which may now explain how the original risk association operates at a molecular level.
As always, increased interaction by you with the EURETINA web community serves to expand your professional network and keep you up to date with the latest initiatives, activities and research in your field. Our hope is that such cross-fertilisation in an active web-based platform will lead to increased collaborative opportunities and ultimately to improved patient care. All readers are invited to submit comments or responses to any of the stories featured and we look forward to hearing from you over the coming month.
Best wishes,
Dr. Gearóid Tuohy, EURETINA