Retina

A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison developed a way to grow organized clusters of cells, called organoids, that resemble the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

According to a news release, Opus will advance preclinical development programs for BEST1– and RHO-related retinal diseases. The deal expands the company’s addressable patient population for its novel treatments for rare inherited retinal diseases.

According to investigators, the study demonstrated that by restoring the function of ADAM10, a major shedding protein, it was possible in preclinical models to control the abnormal formation of blood vessels, offering an attractive therapeutic target to treat DR.

The National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is expanding the effort to understand that connection with a $10.3 million grant.

The company said the submission follows the FDA acceptance of the ONS-5010 BLA for the treatment of wet AMD, with a PDUFA date of August 29, 2023.

According to a team of investigators from the University of Michigan, the findings could help inform treatments for blindness in humans.

Retinopathy of prematurity is thought to be a two-stage disorder that begins with the arrested development of the retinal vessels in preterm babies when exposed to high oxygen levels at birth.

Company officials point out that RZ402 is an oral therapy being developed as a potential alternative to invasive and suboptimal injections into the eye.

Results from our recent poll indicate a mixed bag of responses from ophthalmologists.

Rishi Singh, MD, of Cleveland Clinic Florida, touches upon the various advancements that are making a difference for clinicians and patients and reducing their progression in this disease state.

Julius Oatts, MD, covered a range of current considerations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), including the updated International Classification for ROP, clinical research, and some of the socioeconomic factors that affect ROP. Oatts is assistant professor and associate residency program director with the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco.

According to researcher, the treatment offers improved retinal sensitivity, visual function, and mobility.

Ophthalmologist discusses the impact of getting older on patients diagnosed with the disease.

The results represent a major step towards first in-human clinical studies for this program - the first potential therapy for patients with geographic atrophy secondary to AMD that addresses the underlying causes of the disease.

Researchers from the Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen and the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden at TU Dresden have found that visual cells in the human retina may not simply die in some diseases, but are mechanically transported out of the retina beforehand.

According to researchers, cells within retinal blood vessels are endowed with a previously unappreciated ability to acquire resistance against the damaging effects of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus.

SPVN06 is a breakthrough gene therapy approach aimed at stopping or slowing disease progression in patients affected by IRDs and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), regardless of their genetic background.

Weigh in on this month's survey question. The poll will be open until December 16, 2022.

In an effort to educate the public on GA, Prevent Blindness has created a variety of resources for patients in English and Spanish.

Despite the latest advances in anti-VEGF therapy, a small group of patients do not achieve improved vision. Ophthalmologists are looking for options.

LBS-008 is an orally administered tablet intended as an early intervention to slow disease progression in patients affected with Stargardt disease and dry age-related macular degeneration.

Diabetes can damage the eyes over time and cause vision loss, even blindness. Delaying the disease can also delay any onset of vision problems, including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

Mount Sinai study is the first to identify that heart attack, stroke and heart failure are linked to a specific type of age-related macular degeneration.

Ophthalmologists have learned to optimize their use of traditional anti-VEGF therapies and are now incorporating newer therapies like brolucizumab for managing retinal diseases, and in the not-so-distant future they can look forward to gaining familiarity with faricimab and using a new delivery system for ranibizumab.

Several intravitreally injected anti-VEGF drugs are currently undergoing investigation.

According to the company, ROP Check builds upon its pediatric retina screening portfolio, adding digital management (schedule, document, bill, and transfer) for treating patients with retinopathy of prematurity.

The regulatory process is building confidence that the product is good and can be used safely.

The screening of diabetics for retinopathy has recently become reimbursable in the US, the company noted in its news release, and the approval comes after positive Phase 3 clinical trial earlier this year.

While the advent of anti-VEGF therapies resulted in substantially better outcomes in this patient population, the results can vary substantially among patients.

According to UC Davis researchers, more needs to be done for the field to reflect ethnic and racial diversity across the country.