Pharmacy

Anaheim, CA-Anecortave acetate (Retaane, Alcon), a potent angiostatic agent, has been shown to be safe and superior to placebo in reducing loss of vision from baseline, avoiding severe vision loss, and inhibiting the growth of CNV membranes in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Jason S. Slakter, MD, who spoke during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Las Vegas-The investigational drug pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) has been shown to stabilize and improve vision and showed effectiveness against all three subtypes of lesions involved in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Lawrence J. Singerman, MD.

Washington, DC-Micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs, Addition Technology), which received FDA approval in the United States in 1999 for the treatment of mild myopia, are an alternative to tissue-ablating laser vision procedures and have a number of advantages.

Booth 3315 became a haven of excitement and jubilation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting in Anaheim, CA, last November, as Pfizer Ophthalmics held its coming-out party for the ophthalmic community-complete with cake and ice cream for attendees.

The FDA has approved Refocus Group's request to begin phase II clinical trials of its scleral implants and scleral spacing procedure for the surgical treatment of presbyopia.

Alcon is asking the FDA to approve a new drug application for its travoprost 0.004% plus timolol 0.5% fixed combination (TTFC) for the reduction of IOP in the treatment of glaucoma.

Daniel H. Chang, MD, received his BS degree in chemistry with honors from the California Institute of Technology, where his investigational career began with a summer undergraduate research fellowship. He obtained his MD degree from Duke University, where he served as a research analyst. Dr. Chang is currently chief resident in ophthalmology at Emory University and will pursue a fellowship in cornea and external disease next year. Dr. Chang's research activities have included investigations of the free electron laser and corneal transplantation.

Jacksonville, FL-Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. will begin selling ophthalmic pharmaceuticals for the first time under a distribution and supply deal with Santen Pharmaceutical Group.

Albany, CA-Patients with glaucoma who have had an allergic ocular reaction to brimonidine 0.2% (Alphagan, Allergan) also experience an allergic ocular reaction to brimonidine Purite 0.15% (Alphagan P). In patients with a known allergic response to brimonidine, the likelihood of the same reaction to the reformulation is high.

The advantages of the hypotensive lipids bimatoprost (Lumigan, Allergan), latanoprost (Xalatan, Pfizer), and travoprost (Travatan, Alcon) over timolol 0.5% (Timoptic, Merck) have been conclusively demonstrated in phase III clinical trials. As a class, these therapies have been shown to reduce IOP and to reduce fluctuations of the diurnal curve significantly. Yet, it is important to understand that despite these commonalities, differences also exist. It is only in understanding these differences, and matching them clinically to the individual profile of the patient, that we can choose the right drug at the right time.

Irvine, CA-Allergan Inc. and Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc. will jointly promote epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.05% (Elestat), with Inspire taking on primary duties for sales, promotion, and marketing.

Cataract surgeons who participated in the premarketing clinical trials for the model AT-45 accommodative IOL (Crystalens, eyeonics inc. [formerly C&C Vision]) are heralding that technology as an important advance. The lens affords patients clear uncorrected vision at near, intermediate, and distance. FDA approval for marketing of the lens was granted in November.

Washington, DC-The addition of insurance coverage for prescription drugs in the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act signed by President Bush is being called an historic victory for seniors.

Fremont, CA-Nidek is introducing a new combination pachymeter and A-scan ultrasound unit, and what it is calling the industry's smallest green laser photocoagulator to the United States market. The products, which were launched at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, both recently received FDA approval for commercial sales and marketing.

Marblehead, MA-As the year draws to a close, U.S. ophthalmologists are taking an assessment of where things stand in their practices and in the world around them. Many are finding comfort in the knowledge that the ophthalmic market continues to hold its own in an uncertain economic climate, said Kenneth P. Taylor in an independent analysis of the vision-care sector.

Rochester, NY-Bausch &Lomb is looking to the future and the past as it celebrates the FDA acceptance of a new drug application for its new anti-inflammatory/antibiotic combination product while marking the company's 150 years in business.

San Diego-In the future, clinicians will be better able to prevent, detect, and treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, according to William R. Freeman, MD.

Fort Lauderdale, FL-The FDA has given GMP Companies Inc. its approval to expand a phase III clinical trial of its Eyepass glaucoma implant.

Refractive lens exchange is a safe and effective procedure for providing multifocal vision, and will ultimately become the treatment of choice for presbyopia, said Stephen F. Brint, MD.

The recent FDA approvals of two laser eye surgery systems could significantly change the face of ophthalmology, according to several surgeons.

New York-Treatment with ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) resulted in stable or im-proved vision in 97.5% of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over 6 months, according to the phase Ib/II trial results. Forty-five percent had more than a three-line gain in vision, said Jeffrey S. Heier, MD, a principal investigator in the clinical trial, who reported results at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists.

Paris-Neurotech SA is initiating a phase I clinical trial of NT-501, its lead Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) product for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

New York-Allergan Inc. will pay nearly $230 million in cash to acquire Oculex Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately held company specializing in the development of treatments for sight-threatening diseases of the eye.

New York-More drugs are in the pipeline that may have a positive impact on the treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One that is providing good results is anecortave acetate (15 mg) for depot suspension, (Retaane, Alcon).

New York-Eyetech Pharmaceuticals plans to extend an initial public offering of shares of its common stock.

Del Mar, CA-Eyemakers Inc. has changed its name to EYEM Surgical & Treatment Centers International to reflect the broader nature of its business better.

Irvine, CA -- Two phase III clinical trials of ovine hyaluronidase (Vitrase, ISTA Pharmaceuticals) reveal a statistically significant reduction in vitreous hemorrhage density in patients with diabetes during each of 3 months following a single intravitreous injection of ovine hyaluronidase when compared with a single injection of saline solution.

Indianapolis-The Model 311 Iris Reconstruction Lens (Ophtec) appears safe and has significant benefit for reducing visual disturbances in patients with partial or complete aniridia, according to the first reported results from the FDA phase I trial evaluating that implant.

New York-Treatment is now available for Fabry's disease, a lysosomal storage disorder with ophthalmologic findings. In April, the FDA granted Orphan Drug designation for agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme, Genzyme General), an enzyme replacement therapy, for the treatment of this progressive and potentially fatal disease.

Frankfurt, Germany-Refractive lens exchange with diffractive, bifocal IOL implantation can offer a good option for improving distance vision and restoring near visual acuity in some presbyopic-age patients, said Thomas Kohnen, MD.