EyePod: Week in Review - September 10, 2023

Welcome to the EyePod Week in Review podcast, a look at some of the week’s top headlines.

Syncona announces Novartis discontinuing development of GT005 for geographic atrophy

In a news release, healthcare investment trust Syncona Ltd announced that pharmaceutical company Novartis would discontinue development of GT005.

The decision was based on a recommendation from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee, based on data from the Phase II HORIZON study.

GT005 was under development for addressing secondary to dry age-related macular degeneration.

Novartis acquired Gyroscope Holdings Limited from Syncona in February 2022. According to the statement from Syncona, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee performed an “overall benefit risk assessment of available data from the program studies.” The committee concluded that the available data did not support continuation of development for GT005

Ocugen announces positive clinical study update from the phase 1/2 trial of OCU400

Ocugen Inc. announced a clinical study update for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) participants treated in the Phase 1 2 trial to assess the safety and efficacy of OCU400 for RP associated with NR2E3 and Rhodopsin mutations and Leber congenital amaurosis with mutations in the CEP290 gene.

According to the company, this clinical study update is an extension of results provided by Ocugen on April 14, 2023, and includes additional subjects from the high dose group.

The company said in a news release it believes that OCU400—Ocugen’s therapeutic approach, utilizing a proprietary modifier gene therapy platform—has the potential to be a gene-agnostic therapeutic for retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis patients with inherited retinal degeneration.

Alcon reveals final data from Vivity Registry Study which demonstrates sustained high patient satisfaction and reduced spectacle dependance

Alcon has announced final data from its Vivity Registry Study, which monitored real-world patient experiences for up to 12 months post cataract surgery with implantation of either AcrySof IQ Vivity or AcrySof IQ Vivity Toric presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens.

Alcon stated in a press release, that data from more than 900 cataract patients demonstrated sustained clinical performance, high patient satisfaction and reduced dependence upon spectacles. Alcon also stated that evidence suggested that AcrySof IQ Vivity can be used successfully in a broad range of patients, providing surgeons and patients with additional treatment options.

The Vivity Registry Study was a multicenter, ambispective, non-comparative, open-label, non-interventional registry study conducted across 41 sites from 8 countries.

Bausch + Lomb launches MIEBO in United States

Bausch + Lomb Corp. announced the U S commercial launch of Miebo for treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

According to the company, Miebo is the first and only prescription eye drop approved for DED that directly targets tear evaporation.

The companies noted that the FDA approval was backed up by positive data from the GOBI and MOJAVE phase 3 pivotal clinical trials, which included 1,217 patients who were diagnosed with dry eye disease as well as clinical signs of meibomian gland dysfunction, consistently meeting primary clinical sign and patient-reported symptom end points in the trials.

Researchers: Older people may have glaucoma without realizing it

For many patients, it can prove to be difficult to determine if they may have glaucoma, and a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg found that about 5% of 70-year-olds were found to have glaucoma, and half of those diagnosed were unaware that they had the disease.

The research was carried out by Lena Havstam Johansson, a P h D student at the University of Gothenburg and a specialist nurse at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The study shows that 4.8% of the 560 study participants examined by eye specialists had glaucoma.

According to the news release, for patients who recently received a diagnosis, discovery of the disease could mean they start treatment with daily eye drops that lower the pressure in the eye and reduce possible damage to the optic nerve.

Thank you for listening to another edition of the Ophthalmology Times EyePod podcast. For more details on these articles and other stories, visit OphthalmologyTimes.com.