Macular Degeneration News and Research

Latest Macular Degeneration News and Research

Six3 gene safeguards future retina

New research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators adds to evidence that the Six3 gene functions like a doorman in the developing brain and visual system, safeguarding the future retina by keeping the region where the eye is forming free of a signaling protein capable of disrupting the process.

21 Sep 2010

AMDAI launches 'Don't Surrender to AMD' public awareness campaign

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which affects more than 10 million older Americans, continues to be the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. The global cost of the disease according to a recent report by AMD Alliance International (AMDAI) is estimated at $343 billion, underscoring the need for swift actions to raise awareness of prevention and treatment options.

18 Sep 2010

ACT receives patent for RPE cells to treat retinal degeneration

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it will be issued U.S. Patent Numbers 7,795,025 and 7,794,704 on Tuesday, September 14th, which continue to extend the company's patent portfolio covering its retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell programs.

15 Sep 2010

Aflibercept Phase 3 VELOUR clinical trial for mCRC to continue to completion

Sanofi-aventis and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Phase 3 VELOUR clinical trial of aflibercept (VEGF Trap) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) will continue to completion as planned, with no modifications due to efficacy or safety concerns. This decision is based on the recommendation of an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) following a planned interim analysis.

9 Sep 2010

Silence Therapeutics receives two patents for RNA interference therapeutics

Silence Therapeutics plc announces the issuance of two new patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) which are broadly directed to double-stranded short interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences against the validated cancer targets epidermal growth factor receptor related protein (EGFR-RP) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1).

8 Sep 2010

Promedior initiates PRM-151 Phase 2a clinical study in prevention of scarring post glaucoma filtration surgery

Promedior, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat fibrotic and inflammatory diseases, announced today that it has initiated a Phase 2a clinical study of PRM-151 to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of PRM-151 in preventing post-surgical scarring in glaucoma patients following glaucoma filtration surgery. There currently are no approved drugs for preventing post-surgical scarring in glaucoma, and there are no approved anti-fibrotic drug therapies in the U.S. or Europe for any fibrotic disease.

7 Sep 2010

Microplasmin MIVI-TRUST Phase III program's positive pooled results presented at EURETINA

ThromboGenics NV, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for eye disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer, announces that the pooled results from the successful microplasmin MIVI-TRUST Phase III program were presented today at the EURETINA (European Society of Retina Specialists) Congress in Paris, France.

6 Sep 2010

UB symposium to discuss in silico molecular design, high-throughput screening to treat diseases

Twenty-first-century pharmaceutical breakthroughs require 21st-century drug discovery tools, such as computational or in silico molecular design and high-throughput screening of effective, new compounds. That's the theme of a University at Buffalo symposium to be held Sept. 11 on "Twenty-first Century Bioscience: In Silico Methods and High-Throughput Screening," which will feature a variety of cutting-edge advances in the field developed by researchers in Western New York and throughout the US.

3 Sep 2010

ThromboGenics second microplasmin Phase III trial for non-surgical treatment of VMA meets primary endpoint

ThromboGenics NV, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for eye disease, vascular disease and cancer announces that its second Phase III trial evaluating microplasmin for the non-surgical treatment of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) has met its primary endpoint.

2 Sep 2010

Multispectral imaging of ocular fundus using new LED Illumination system

A new imaging system using six different wavelengths to illuminate the interior of the eyeball (ocular fundus) may pave the way for doctors to easily screen patients for common diseases of the eye, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The system is described in the journal Review of Scientific Instruments, which is published by the American Institute of Physics.

2 Sep 2010

PDL BioPharma reports revenue guidance of $86 million for 2010 third quarter

PDL BioPharma, Inc. today announced revenue guidance for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010 of approximately $86 million, as compared with actual results of $71.4 million for the third quarter of 2009, a 20 percent year-over-year increase.

2 Sep 2010

Scientists identify genetic basis to determine severity of allergic asthma in experimental models

Scientists have identified a genetic basis for determining the severity of allergic asthma in experimental models of the disease.The study may help in the search for future therapeutic strategies to fight a growing medical problem that currently lacks effective treatments, researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center report in the Aug. 29 Nature Immunology.

30 Aug 2010

Gene linked to Fuchs corneal dystrophy discovered

A 13-member research team led by University of Oregon scientist Dr. Albert O. Edwards has found a gene likely responsible for Fuchs corneal dystrophy, an inheritable genetic disorder and leading cause of corneal transplant operations.

26 Aug 2010

USPTO grants Taligen patent for TT30 lead product candidate

Taligen Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapies that regulate the complement system to treat inflammatory and immune diseases, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,759,304, entitled "Targeting Complement Factor H For Treatment of Diseases", covering the composition of matter for its lead product candidate, TT30, a novel fusion protein that selectively binds to complement activated cells to locally regulate the complement system.

24 Aug 2010

Taligen Therapeutics announces closing on $10M tranche of Series B financing

Taligen Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapies that regulate the complement system to treat inflammatory and immune diseases, today announced that it has closed on a $10 million tranche of a Series B financing, based on substantial progress with the company's product pipeline including advancing the lead product candidate, TT30, toward clinical development.

23 Aug 2010

ISCO to formalize eye care based stem cell therapeutic programs into Cytovis business unit

International Stem Cell Corporation, today announced that its stem cell therapeutic programs focused on protective, transparent corneas (CytoCor™) in the front of the eye and the light-sensitive retinal tissue (CytoRet™) in the back of the eye will be formalized into a new business unit, Cytovis™.

20 Aug 2010

Quark enters licensing option agreement with Novartis for p53 temporary inhibitor siRNA drug QPI-1002

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced that it has granted Novartis an option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize its p53 temporary inhibitor siRNA drug QPI-1002, currently the subject of a Phase II clinical trial.

18 Aug 2010

XOMA sells royalty interest in CIMZIA

XOMA Ltd., a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced today that it has sold its royalty interest in CIMZIA® (certolizumab pegol) marketed by UCB S.A. for $4 million to an undisclosed buyer. The manufacture of CIMZIA is covered by a license to XOMA's Bacterial Cell Expression technology.

18 Aug 2010

Study reveals how galectin-3 carbohydrate-binding protein promotes angiogenesis

A new study describes how a carbohydrate-binding protein, galectin-3, promotes angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. Targeting the protein, scientists identified two approaches that significantly reduced angiogenesis in mice. These discoveries, published online August 16 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, may lead to novel treatments for diseases caused by excessive angiogenesis, including age-related macular degeneration, cancer, and diabetes.

16 Aug 2010

NeoStem second-quarter revenues increase 26% to $19.4 million

NeoStem, Inc. an international biopharmaceutical company with product and service revenues, global research and development capabilities and operations in three distinct business units, U.S. adult stem cells, China adult stem cells, and China pharmaceuticals is today providing results of its second quarter 2010.

16 Aug 2010