Eye News and Research

Latest Eye News and Research

Small molecule treatment holds promise for Usher syndrome

New treatment approach shall soon be ready for use in Usher syndrome patients / Publication in "Human Gene Therapy".

1 Jul 2011

Amylin behaves when guarded by zinc

In type 2 diabetes, a protein called amylin forms dense clumps that shut down insulin-producing cells, wreaking havoc on the control of blood sugar. But zinc has a knack for preventing amylin from misbehaving.

1 Jul 2011

ESC Congress 2011 to spotlight 'controversial issues in cardiology'

The scientific programme for this year's ESC Congress, which will take place in Paris from 27-31 August, is now complete and promises to provide journalists with a rich source of front-page news stories and background for topical features.

30 Jun 2011

Anabasis, Scil Proteins enter license deal for rhNGF to treat eye diseases

Scil Proteins, a private biopharmaceutical company specialized in the research, development and production of recombinant proteins, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Anabasis Pharma.

30 Jun 2011

Innovation in contact lenses for children wins Donald Korb Award

Earl L. Smith III, O.D., dean of the College of Optometry at the University of Houston (UH), recently received an award for his work in slowing the progression of nearsightedness in children.

30 Jun 2011

Positive results from RISE and RIDE Phase III trials of Genentech's Lucentis for diabetic macular edema

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced 24-month results from the two pivotal Phase III trials (RISE and RIDE) assessing the efficacy and safety of Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) in people with diabetic macular edema (DME).

29 Jun 2011

Bayer Yakuhin seeks marketing authorization in Japan for EYLEA for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare announced that Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd., Osaka, Japan, has submitted an application to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan for marketing authorization for EYLEA, also known as VEGF Trap-Eye, for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

29 Jun 2011

New concepts for how evolutionary change occurs

At a recent Kavli Futures Symposium, 19 experts from a diverse range of fields discussed the promise of using the lab to understand and exploit the evolution of organisms -- progress that may one day lead to new vaccines or other biotechnology products.

29 Jun 2011

Insufficient sleep can reduce benefit of hormones released during sleep

Nearly half of all Americans reported having difficulty sleeping. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that about 35% of people surveyed in 12 states said they slept less than 7 hours a night on average.

29 Jun 2011

Positive top line data from Mimetogen MIM-D3 Phase II clinical trial for dry eye disease

Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced positive top line data from the Phase II clinical trial of MIM-D3 for dry eye disease. The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in signs and symptoms with its low (1%) and high (5%) doses of MIM-D3, together with excellent safety and tolerability profiles.

27 Jun 2011

Ivantis receives $17 MM NEA, Delphi Ventures funds to expand Hydrus device clinical activities

Ivantis announced today at the World Glaucoma Congress in Paris that it has received $17 MM in funding from New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Delphi Ventures.

27 Jun 2011

STAAR Surgical completes first procedures to implant Visian ICL V4c design

STAAR Surgical Company, the leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive refractive lenses that go inside the eye, today announced the completion of the first procedures to implant its recently CE Mark-approved Visian Implantable Collamer Lens V4c design.

27 Jun 2011

Positive preliminary findings from ATI's neurostimulation system study on cluster headache

Autonomic Technologies, Inc. (ATI), the developer of a novel miniaturized implantable system for severe headaches, today announced positive preliminary findings from a study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the company's investigational neurostimulation system for the treatment of cluster headache.

27 Jun 2011

McMaster researchers to use tiny worms for Parkinson's project

McMaster researchers from three disciplines are deploying thousands of tiny worms and a homegrown invention to test drugs in a collaborative bid to defeat Parkinson's Disease.

27 Jun 2011

Isotechnika's partner Lux to appeal EMA CHMP decision against Luveniq

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. today announced that its partner, Lux Biosciences, Inc. will appeal the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) decision not to approve Luveniq™ (voclosporin) as a treatment for noninfectious uveitis involving the intermediate or posterior segments of the eye.

24 Jun 2011

Epilepsy may arise from complex mixture of altered ion channels

Imagine two flat screen televisions tuned to the same channel and sitting side-by-side. From a distance, their pictures are virtually the same, however up close, you can see subtle variations in the pixels - one blurred here, another dropped out there.

24 Jun 2011

Protein globin E helps avian eyes 'breathe' and contributes to visual acuity

Say what you will about bird brains, but our feathered friends sure have us -- and all the other animals on the planet -- beat in the vision department, and that has a bit to do with how their brains develop.

24 Jun 2011

Discovery sheds new light on initiation of vision process

A discovery by a team of researchers led by a Syracuse University physicist sheds new light on how the vision process is initiated. For almost 50 years, scientists have believed that light signals could not be initiated unless special light-receptor molecules in the retinal cells first changed their shape in a process called isomerization.

24 Jun 2011

Some drug mixtures may be fatal for elderly: study

British scientists warn that well known brands of hay fever tablets, painkillers and sleeping pills pose a previously unknown threat to elderly people’s health when taken together. Many are available over the counter at pharmacies as well as being prescribed by GPs, nurses and chemists they said.

23 Jun 2011

The role of pharmaceutical companies in global health

Owen Barder, a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development, examines the relationship among aid donors, GAVI and pharmaceutical companies in a post on the center's "Global Health Policy" blog.

23 Jun 2011