This Week in Ophthalmology: Week of July 13, 2024

David Hutton of Ophthalmology Times welcomes you to the debut of This Week in Ophthalmology, a video series highlighting some of the top articles featured on the Ophthalmology Times website.

Luminopia is highlighting real-world data from the Patients Using Prescription Luminopia (PUPiL) Registry that continues to demonstrate efficacy of the FDA-approved therapy in improving vision for children with amblyopia.

According to the company, its approach to treating amblyopia in young children couples proprietary therapeutic software with virtual reality (VR) headsets and popular children's TV shows. IT has been available on the market for more than a year following rigorous clinical trials and de novo FDA premarket approval.

I had a conversation recently with Scott Xiao, Luminopia's co-founder and CEO, who discussed this option for treating amblyopia.

Read More: VR approach to treating amblyopia in children with Luminopia

Adverum Biotechnologies this week announced results from the 26-week interim analysis of the ongoing LUNA Phase 2 trial of ixo-vec in patients with wet AMD. The data were presented by Dr. Charles Wycoff on July 17, during the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of retina specialists in Stockholm, Sweden.

Upcoming milestones for the LUNA trial include continued FDA and EMA formal and informal regulatory interactions in the second half of 2024 presentations of LUNA 9 month analysis during Q4 of 2020, for Phase 3 pivotal trial design update during Q4 presentation of landmark LUNA 52-week analysis in Q1 of 2025, and planned initiation of the Phase 3 trial during the first half of 2025.

Read More: Adverum Biotechnologies presenting positive Ixo-vec clinical data from the 26-week interim analysis of the LUNA Phase 2 trial

Merck this week announced it has completed acquisition of Eyebiotech limited according to the company, the acquisition strengthens and diversifies Merck's pipeline with the addition of Restoret a novel late phase candidate for diabetic macular edema, and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, as well as preclinical candidates. Eyebio is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck.
The deal is valued as high as $3 billion, including an upfront cash payment of $1.3 billion, along with the potential for an additional $1.7 billion in developmental, regulatory and commercial milestone payments.

Read More: Merck completes acquisition of EyeBio