Glaucoma News and Research

Latest Glaucoma News and Research

NIH to fund grants for epigenetic research

The National Institutes of Health announced today that it will fund 22 grants on genome-wide studies of how epigenetic changes -- chemical modifications to genes that result from diet, aging, stress, or environmental exposures -- define and contribute to specific human diseases and biological processes.

17 Sep 2009

FDA approves Sirion's Zirgan for treating acute herpetic keratitis

Sirion Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held ophthalmic-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its New Drug Application for Zirgan(TM) (ganciclovir ophthalmic gel) 0.15% as a treatment for acute herpetic keratitis (dendritic ulcers). The FDA granted orphan drug designation to Zirgan for this indication in April 2007.

17 Sep 2009

Lexicon initiates Phase 2 clinical trial of LX4211 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease, obtained favorable results from recently completed Phase 1 studies of LX4211 and announced today that it has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial of the drug candidate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

15 Sep 2009

Triamcinolone may be a treatment option for some patients with retinal vein occlusion

Injecting the eye with the corticosteroid triamcinolone appears effective in improving the vision of some patients with retinal vein occlusion, an important cause of vision loss that results from blockages in the blood vessels in the retina, according to two reports in the September issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 Sep 2009

Alcon to acquire ESBATech AG

Alcon (NYSE:ACL) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ESBATech AG, a Swiss biotechnology company. Alcon will pay ESBATech shareholders $150 million in cash at closing, plus contingent payments of up to $439 million based upon the achievement of future research and development milestones that would be expected to create value for Alcon.

14 Sep 2009

Cymbalta maintains reduction in pain for patients with chronic low back pain

New data show patients with chronic low back pain on Cymbalta(R) (duloxetine HCl) maintained reductions in pain for 41 weeks. In patients who initially responded to duloxetine, this maintenance of pain reduction was accompanied by further reduction in pain that was statistically significant as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating.

11 Sep 2009

1.4 million Nigerians over the age of 40 will become blind by 2020: Study

By 2020, 1.4 million Nigerians over age 40 will lose their sight, and the vast majority of the causes are either preventable or treatable, according to the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Study Group.

9 Sep 2009

Preliminary Phase 3 clinical study results of T-Pred released

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced preliminary results from two recently completed studies on its investigational ophthalmic product, T-Pred (prednisolone acetate 1.0% and tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic suspension). The Company is developing T-Pred as a treatment for inflammatory ocular conditions for which a corticosteroid is indicated and where bacterial ocular infection exists, or there is a risk of bacterial infection.

9 Sep 2009

FDA approves ISTA's Bepreve for treating ocular itch

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISTA) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bepreve(TM) (bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution) 1.5% as a twice-daily prescription eye drop treatment for ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients two years of age and older.

9 Sep 2009

European MAA for lubiprostone withdrawn by Sucampo Pharma Europe

Sucampo Pharma Europe, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCMP), today announced the withdrawal of its European marketing authorization application (MAA) for lubiprostone, 24 mcg, for the indication of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC).

5 Sep 2009

$NEI awards grant to Vivakor for developing a digital photo-refractor$

NEI awards grant to Vivakor for developing a digital photo-refractor

Vivakor, Inc. announced that the National Institutes of Health-National Eye Institute has awarded a grant to Vivakor, Inc. in Coralville, IA through the Small Business Innovation Research Awards.

4 Sep 2009

SAFLUTAN launched in United Kingdom and Spain

Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) has launched SAFLUTAN (tafluprost) in the United Kingdom and Spain, and additional launches in other countries are expected over the next several months, pending regulatory approvals, the Company said today.

3 Sep 2009

Merck's SAFLUTAN launched in the UK and Spain

Merck & Co., Inc. has launched SAFLUTAN® (tafluprost) in the United Kingdom and Spain, and additional launches in other countries are expected over the next several months, pending regulatory approvals, the Company said today. SAFLUTAN is a preservative free, synthetic analogue of the prostaglandin F2α for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in appropriate patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

3 Sep 2009

Results of the first pivotal Phase III trial with pimavanserin in patients with PDP announced

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) today announced top-line results from the first pivotal Phase III trial with pimavanserin in patients with Parkinson’s disease psychosis, or PDP. The study did not meet its primary endpoint of antipsychotic efficacy as measured using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, or SAPS.

1 Sep 2009

European Medicines Agency validates Schering-Plough's MAA for nomegestrol acetate/17 beta-estradiol

Schering-Plough Corporation, (NYSE: SGP), today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has validated (accepted for review) the company's Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for a fixed-dose combination of mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 12 years of age and older.

27 Aug 2009

Vision-related patient-reported outcomes used for improving medical product labeling in ophthalmology

The National Eye Institute (NEI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring an October 13 conference to determine how vision-related patient-reported outcomes might be used to improve medical product labeling in ophthalmology.

26 Aug 2009

Subject enrollment in patients with retinitis pigmentosa for Phase 2 clinical study completed by R-Tech Ueno

We are pleased to announce that subject enrollment for the phase 2 clinical study of 0.15% UF-021 (generic name; isopropyl unoprostone; active ingredient of Rescula(R) eye-drops) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa has been completed.

25 Aug 2009

Lundbeck to launch Sabril in the US following FDA's NDA approval

Lundbeck Inc. (“Lundbeck”), a wholly owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark (Copenhagen: LUN), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted two New Drug Application (NDA) approvals for Sabril® (vigabatrin) Tablets and Oral Solution. Lundbeck plans to launch Sabril in the United States in the third quarter.

24 Aug 2009

Aton Pharma markets preservative-free drugs for glaucoma

Aton Pharma, Inc., a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced it has launched new education, distribution, sampling and reimbursement programs for TIMOPTIC(R) in OCUDOSE(R), the only preservative-free medication for glaucoma available in the United States. Aton acquired the U.S. marketing rights in February to the TIMOPTIC product line from Merck & Co., Inc. TIMOPTIC (timolol maleate) is a non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent indicated for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. As many as 2.25 million Americans suffer from open-angle glaucoma.

20 Aug 2009

Decode Genetics announces Q2 2009 financials

deCODE genetics (Nasdaq: DCGN) today announced its consolidated financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. A conference call to discuss these results and recent developments in the company's business will be webcast live tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11, at 8:00am Eastern Daylight Time/12 noon GMT/1pm British Summer Time (details below).

10 Aug 2009