News

Bepotastine besilate 1.0% (Bepreve, ISTA Pharmaceuticals), an ocular allergy compound under new drug application review by the FDA, is effective in reducing ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis and also seems to improve other allergy symptoms.

The Wilmer Eye Institute will host its 26th annual Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting here March 16 to 20.

Important differences exist between the various classes of over-the-counter eye drops. Physicians play a vital role in explaining these differences, as well as their potential implications in the treatment of the symptoms of dry eye and other conditions, to patients. Educating patients about the available formulations not only may expedite the relief of their symptoms but also may save them time and money.

Everyone is given a special talent, which, if developed, can allow them to perform their talent really well. This explains why there are great singers, superb artists or musicians, and gifted mechanics, to name a few professions. Those talents often are limited to that particular setting, however; they are not always transferable into another area.

Complex visual hallucinations experienced by visually impaired patients are often indicative of Charles Bonnet syndrome. Individuals who experience these hallucinations usually understand that they are not real but will benefit from a doctor's explanation that they are associated with their vision loss and are unlikely to be a sign of mental illness.

Pfizer will acquire Wyeth in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $50.19 per share, or a total of about $68 billion, as of the Jan. 26 announcement of the planned merger. The companies expect the transaction to close toward the end of this year.

To help combat the unfavorable view the public has about pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) recently published updates to their "Code on Interactions with Health-care Professionals," which went into effect Jan. 1. PhRMA's basis for the updates is that "interactions should be focused on informing health-care professionals about products, providing scientific and educational information, and supporting medical education." Changes have been made in three major categories: gifting, consulting, and enforcement of the code.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) commended President Barack Obama for singling out the importance of eye and vision care when he signed the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

According to a study published in the February issue of Ophthalmology younger people seem to make judgments about the age and alertness of older people by looking into and around their eyes.

Roche will reduce its original offer to purchase outstanding shares of Genentech from $89 per share, or $43.7 billion, to $86.50 per share, or $42.1 billion, and will go directly to shareholders for approval, the company has announced.

Fortune magazine has named Genentech and Alcon Laboratories to its latest '100 Best Companies to Work For' list of U.S. employers.

The World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association have set March 12 as the second annual World Glaucoma Day.

Ophthalmology Times has been named a finalist in the 55th annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Awards competition recognizing editorial excellence.

The FDA has accepted for review a new drug application filed by Sirion Therapeutics Inc. for ganciclovir ophthalmic gel 0.15%.

Patients treated with ecabet sodium demonstrated a strong positive trend in the objective sign of tear film break-up time and a positive trend in the objective sign of quantity of tears produced in a phase IIb study conducted by ISTA Pharmaceuticals.

Pfizer will acquire Wyeth in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $50.19 per share, or a total of about $68 billion, as of the Jan. 26 announcement of the planned merger.

Bausch & Lomb launched a new advertising campaign geared toward baby boomers and seniors about its FDA-approved accommodating IOL (Crystalens).

One year follow-up results of a small study of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) in patients with nonischemic retinal vein occlusion show that all treated patients gained VA or that VA remained stable, although this improvement was accompanied by decreases in contrast sensitivity and reading ability.

After 2 years, the federal government's voluntary Competitive Acquisition Program has been put on hold as of January.

This is the time of year that my administrator asks me: "So, where are we going in the new year? What I have finally come to learn is that instead of asking, "Where are we going?" it is more valuable to ask, "Where have we been?"

In a small pilot study with limited follow-up, early application of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) using a specific diode laser (IQ810, Iridex Corp.) appeared promising. Use of this multifunctional laser may have practical advantages in a clinical setting. Further study of the technology is needed to determine the role of MLT in the treatment of glaucoma.

A topical eye drop (OT-551, Othera) is being investigated to treat geographic atrophy in dry age-related macular degeneration. The treatment is an antioxidant that in vitro protects against antioxidative damage and in vivo protects against light damage. One-year data are expected to be reported in the spring.

JPE1375 (Jerini Ophthalmic), a peptidomimetic inhibitor of the complement factor 5a receptor, blocks the mechanism that draws inflammatory cells into the disease process of age-related macular degeneration. When blocked, the numbers of neutrophils and macrophages decrease substantially and in turn the choroidal neovascularization also decreases.

In a small retrospective study, eyes receiving intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) within 3 months of a central retinal vein occlusion showed rapid improvement in anatomic abnormalities and subsequent improvement in vision. The benefits were maintained with repeated injections after a mean follow-up of 1 year.

A phase 1 trial of rapamycin (Sirolimus, MacuSight) indicated that the drug is safe and has biologic activity in patients with diabetic macular edema when injected intravitreally and subconjunctivally.

Oral fenretinide (Sirion Therapeutics) is being investigated in a phase II study as a treatment for advanced geographic atrophy associated with age-related macular degeneration. It is hypothesized that this agent may limit disease progression by preventing delivery of circulating retinol to the eye, thereby reducing the accumulation of retinol-derived metabolites that are toxic to the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells.

Microincision vitrectomy surgery has rapidly gained increased popularity. It is associated with many advantages, but there have been some reports of disadvantages such as a significantly higher incidence of endophthalmitis postoperatively, though more recent reports do not substantiate this conclusion. Advances in the technology likely will facilitate safer and more efficient vitrectomy.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography is becoming an invaluable diagnostic tool and greatly helps ophthalmologists better manage their patients' conditions, according to one expert. This improved management of conditions, he said, can be realized not only in the medical arena but also in the surgical arena as well.

The Micro-Surgical Safety Task Force analyzed potential complications associated with sutureless vitrectomy and disseminated guidelines to reduce the rate of endophthalmitis associated with 25-gauge vitrectomy.

Employing a therapeutic approach consisting of pan-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) blockers such as ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) and/or bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) as an induction therapy, followed by a selective VEGF blocker such as pegaptanib (Macugen, OSI/Eyetech) as a maintenance therapy, appears to be effective in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to the interim results of the LEVEL study. This approach may be preferred for many patients from the standpoint of systemic safety.