Macular Degeneration News and Research

Latest Macular Degeneration News and Research

SMR, RTU enter license agreement for RESCULA eye drops

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sucampo Manufacturing & Research AG, and R-Tech Ueno, Ltd., a pharmaceutical company founded in Japan in 1989, have entered into a license agreement for RESCULA eye drops, expanding Sucampo's rights beyond its previously agreed territory of the United States and Canada to all countries in Europe and the rest of the world except Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China.

23 Mar 2011

Advanced Cell Technology reduces 2010 debt to less than $1 million

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today 2010 year-end results for the period ended December 31, 2010. The Company utilized $8.8 million in cash for operations during the year, compared to $5.1 million in the year-earlier period.

21 Mar 2011

Eating fish protects from blindness: Study

According to latest study fish that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids significantly lowers the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration that leads to blindness. The study was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.

17 Mar 2011

Eating fatty fish reduces blindness risk from AMD: Study

New research has shown that consuming omega-3 fatty acids that are most commonly found in oily fish such as tinned salmon and tuna, could prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that leads to the gradual loss of vision. The required amount may be as low as one to two portions of fish a week that can reduce the risk of sight loss by up to 42 per cent in older women, according to a new study. Earlier results have shown similar benefits in men. Omega 3, whose common form in food is Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can also be taken as a supplement.

16 Mar 2011

Sanofi-aventis, Regeneron announce results of VEGF Trap Phase III trial in second-line NSCLC

Sanofi-aventis and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced results from the Phase III VITAL trial evaluating the investigational agent aflibercept (VEGF Trap) for the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

11 Mar 2011

Genentech announces positive outcomes from Lucentis Phase III trial against DME

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that two-year results from a pivotal Phase III trial showed patients with diabetic macular edema who received Lucentis experienced rapid and sustained improvement in vision compared to those who received a placebo injection.

11 Mar 2011

QLT fourth quarter revenues decrease 7.3% to $10.0 million

QLT Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010 and full year 2010 as well as issued its guidance for 2011. Unless specified otherwise, all amounts are in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

1 Mar 2011

Regeneron's ARCALYST meets primary, secondary endpoints in second Phase 3 gout flare study

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that in a second Phase 3 study (PRE-SURGE 2) in gout patients initiating allopurinol therapy, ARCALYST (rilonacept) met the primary and all secondary study endpoints. The primary endpoint was the number of gout flares per patient over the 16-week treatment period.

28 Feb 2011

ACT receives patent for its single-blastomere technology

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it has been issued a patent on its "single-blastomere" technique. Patent Number 7,893,315 broadly covers ACT's proprietary single-blastomere technology that provides a non-destructive alternative for deriving human embryonic stem cell lines.

23 Feb 2011

Regeneron submits VEGF Trap-Eye BLA to FDA for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the company submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), the goal for a standard review time from submission to FDA action is ten months.

22 Feb 2011

Early diagnosis can delay or halt progression of macular degeneration

February is Age-related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision Awareness month, providing an opportunity to inform and educate the public on the leading cause of vision loss for adults over the age of 65. Today, over 15 million of these adults suffer from age-related macular degeneration, a number that is expected to grow considerably as the baby boomer generation begins heading into retirement age. While the risks are growing, awareness and education is key to treating and saving the eyesight of millions.

19 Feb 2011

BioTime to merge Glycosan with OrthoCyte

BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to merge Utah-based Glycosan BioSystems, Inc. (Glycosan) with BioTime's wholly-owned subsidiary, OrthoCyte Corporation. The acquisition is expected to close by March 18, 2011.

14 Feb 2011

Study shows beneficial anti-fibrotic effects of Pentraxin-2 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Promedior, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat fibrotic and inflammatory diseases, announced today the publication of collaborative research in the International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology entitled, "TGF-beta driven lung fibrosis is macrophage dependent and blocked by Serum amyloid P."

14 Feb 2011

Phase III RISE study of Lucentis for DME meets primary endpoint

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, announced today that one of two Phase III studies evaluating monthly Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), met its primary endpoint. DME is a serious complication of diabetes that affects up to 10 percent of people with the disease and can lead to blurred vision, severe vision loss and blindness.

14 Feb 2011

Study reveals beneficial anti-fibrotic effects of Pentraxin-2 in TGFβ1-induced lung disease

11 Feb 2011

Promedior initiates Phase 1b clinical study of PRM-151 in patients with IPF

Promedior, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat fibrotic and inflammatory diseases, announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1b clinical study of PRM-151 to explore the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and phamacodynamics of PRM-151 in the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

11 Feb 2011

Alexion fourth quarter net product sales of Soliris increases to $156.0 million

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. For the three months ended December 31, 2010, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported net product sales of Soliris® (eculizumab) of $156.0 million, reflecting strong additions of new patients, compared to $110.6 million for the same period in 2009.

10 Feb 2011

International Stroke Conference: News releases and news tips

Government researcher receives top honor, five others recognized at stroke conference

10 Feb 2011

Photodynamic therapy could be useful in eradicating tumor-associated lymphatic vessels

Tumor cells have several routes that enable them to move from the primary tumor to distant tissues, a process called metastasis. It is metastasis of the primary tumor that kills most cancer patients. One of the least studied routes of metastasis is the lymphatic system. Many tumors produce factors that promote the formation of new lymphatic vessels (lymphangiogenesis).

10 Feb 2011

New insight into AMD related blindness

more than 50 million worldwideA new study in the journal Nature has reported the pathology of blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration or AMD. This condition affects more than 50 million worldwide and is incurable. The researchers report that when an enzyme known as DICER1 stops functioning AMD starts to develop.

8 Feb 2011