Eye News and Research

Latest Eye News and Research

Alimera submits Iluvien NDA for DME to FDA

Alimera Sciences, Inc.,, a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Iluvien®, (flucocinolone acetonide intravitreal insert), its investigational, sustained drug delivery system releasing sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

29 Jun 2010

Successful growth of mouse embryonic stem cells in rat lungs raises hopes for engineering human transplants

For someone with a severe, incurable lung disorder such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung transplant may be the only chance for survival. Unfortunately, it's often not a very good chance. Matching donor lungs are rare, and many would-be recipients die waiting for the transplants that could save their lives.

29 Jun 2010

Artificial pancreas holds promise for treating Type 1 diabetes

Shawna Wood would like nothing better than to go back to bed for another 24 hours of perfect blood sugar control. The 50-year old Wilsonville, Ore. woman has Type 1 diabetes, and she recently took part in a clinical trial of an automated replacement for her pancreas, which stopped producing insulin 9 years ago.

29 Jun 2010

A neuro-optometric rehabilitation case report

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) has posted its current issue of Optometry & Vision Development online and invites all to read the full-text articles free of charge.

29 Jun 2010

Fireworks Safety Tips from AMR paramedics

The Independence Day holiday is filled with the bangs, whistles and pops of backyard fireworks. Too often, revelers forget that fireworks are dangerous explosives, not toys. Fireworks send thousands of people to the hospital each year and cause millions of dollars in fire losses. Here's some fireworks safety advice from paramedics at American Medical Response (AMR) to help protect you and your family from injury and property damage.

28 Jun 2010

QLT joins Russell Global Index

QLT Inc., a company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the eye, announced today that the company has been added to the Russell Global Index. The 2010 reconstitution of the Russell Indexes, a comprehensive set of U.S. and global equity indexes created by Russell Investments, took place after the market close on June 25, 2010.

28 Jun 2010

Scientists discover characteristic amyloid plaques in retinas from Alzheimer's disease patients

The nerve cell-damaging plaque that builds up in the brain with Alzheimer's disease also builds up in the retinas of the eyes - and it shows up there earlier, leading to the prospect that noninvasive optical imaging of the eyes could lead to earlier diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of the disease, according to new research.

25 Jun 2010

New research suggests resveratrol may inhibit pathogenic blood vessel formation

Current research suggests that resveratrol, a naturally occurring compound found in red wine, grapes, blueberries, peanuts, and other plants, inhibits pathogenic new blood vessel growth.

25 Jun 2010

Nintendo DS helps cure lazy eye

For six year old Ben Michaels nothing could be more welcome than his recent therapy regime. He was detected with a problem in his eyesight by a school nurse from the age of four. On examination he was found to have a lazy right eye or amblyopia. Left untreated it would have lost him his vision completely.

24 Jun 2010

AGTC, Icagen complete agreement for purchase and sale of patent rights

AGTC, a privately held company, and Icagen, Inc. today announced the completion of an agreement for the purchase and sale of certain patent rights between the companies. Icagen is transferring its rights to patents relating to the ion channel gene CNGB3, which has been linked to certain disorders of the eye. Under the terms of the agreement, Icagen has assigned ownership of the patents to AGTC, which intends to use the patented technology for gene therapy as a potential treatment for Achromatopsia, a severe form of daytime blindness.

24 Jun 2010

Blood flow disturbances in artery determine appearance of atherosclerosis: Study

A new animal model of atherosclerosis has allowed researchers to identify a host of genes turned on or off during the initial stages of the process, before a plaque appears in the affected blood vessel.

24 Jun 2010

Researchers find why patients with XPV are more susceptible to skin cancer

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found why patients with a variant form of xeroderma pigmentosum, an inherited genetic disorder characterized by extreme sensitivity to the sun, are more susceptible to skin cancers than the general population. The data are published in the current issue of the journal Nature. Their finding sets the stage for research into therapies that would help protect people with XPV from developing skin cancers.

24 Jun 2010

VISINE launches new Maximum Redness Relief Formula

Now irritated, red eyes can get the fast, effective relief they need with the launch of NEW VISINE® Maximum Redness Relief Formula. Plus, the free new VISINE® Red Eye Remover Application lets iPhone® and iPod® Touch users eliminate red eye from their photos in moments.

24 Jun 2010

Extract of French maritime pine tree bark reduces hay fever symptoms

An estimated 60 million people in the U.S. are affected by allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Hay fever is an allergic inflammation of the nasal airways that causes itching, swelling, mucus production, hives and rashes. A study published in the June 14, 2010 issue of Phytotherapy Research demonstrates Pycnogenol- (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, substantially improves the symptoms of hay fever.

24 Jun 2010

FDA cancels Advisory Committee review of Lux Biosciences' voclosporin NDA

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the Dermatology and Ophthalmology Drugs Advisory Committee review of partner, Lux Biosciences', New Drug Application (NDA) for voclosporin on June 28, 2010.

24 Jun 2010

Researchers study why the brain of newborn baby is particularly flexible

Science has long puzzled over why a baby's brain is particularly flexible and why it easily changes. Is it because babies have to learn a lot? A group of researchers from the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in G-ttingen, the Schiller University in Jena and Princeton University have now put forward a new explanation: Maybe it is because the brain still has to grow.

23 Jun 2010

Ensemble Discovery announces name change to Ensemble Therapeutics Corporation

Ensemble Discovery today announced that it will begin operating as Ensemble Therapeutics Corporation to reflect the Company's progress and emerging pipeline by applying its macrocycle drug platform to develop novel therapeutics. The new name, Ensemble Therapeutics, conveys the company's leadership and advancement in developing novel macrocycle drug compounds that are small molecules with expanded therapeutic properties of large molecule biological drugs.

22 Jun 2010

Tobii Technology announces launch of cost-effective eye tracking system

Tobii Technology, the global market leader in eye tracking, today announces the launch of Tobii Glasses™ a revolutionary, cost-effective eye tracking system. Tobii Glasses will help researchers in commercial, scientific, and government organisations to gain greater levels of insight into the preferences, reactions and personal experiences of people in a natural environment.

22 Jun 2010

QLT reports final 24-month results from Phase II RADICAL study in patients with wet AMD

QLT Inc. today announced final 24-month results from the Phase II RADICAL study (Reduced Fluence Visudyne Anti-VEGF-Dexamethasone In Combination for AMD Lesions) in patients with exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration. The purpose of the study was to determine if Visudyne® combined with Lucentis® reduced retreatment rates compared with Lucentis monotherapy, while maintaining similar vision outcomes and an acceptable safety profile.

22 Jun 2010

OXiGENE reports encouraging data from ZYBRESTAT program at Glaucoma and Retinopathies 2010 conference

OXiGENE, Inc., a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, announced today that the company presented an update on its ZYBRESTAT ophthalmology program, including encouraging preclinical data showing that the company's topical formulation achieved target retina/choroid concentrations with minimal systemic exposure.

22 Jun 2010