Macular Degeneration News and Research

Latest Macular Degeneration News and Research

Acucela, Otsuka Pharmaceutical granted FDA Fast Track designation for ACU-4429 in treatment of dry AMD

Acucela Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing new treatments for blinding eye diseases, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., today announced that they have received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ACU-4429, an investigational oral treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD).

17 Mar 2010

Reversal of aging in normal human cells

BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, today announced the publication of a scientific paper titled “Spontaneous Reversal of Developmental Aging in Normal Human Cells Following Transcriptional Reprogramming.”

17 Mar 2010

OVD issue highlights prevalence of eye problems in general population

In the latest issue of Optometry & Vision Development (OVD), Dr. Dominick Maino, editor of OVD, notes that: "In 2010 there are 9 million people with lazy eye and 18 million individuals with eye-turns

17 Mar 2010

Promedior raises $12M in Series C financing

Promedior, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, today announced that it has raised $12 million in a Series C financing round. Forbion Capital Partners led the round, with participation from existing investors Morgenthaler Ventures, HealthCare Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners, and Easton Capital. The Series C financing brings the total capital raised by Promedior over the past year to $27 million.

16 Mar 2010

XOMA 052 reduces adverse consequences that lead to development of congestive heart failure

XOMA Ltd., a leader in the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics, announced results demonstrating that a murine equivalent of XOMA 052, its novel, high-affinity antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), significantly reduced adverse consequences that usually lead to the development of congestive heart failure in a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

15 Mar 2010

XOMA initiates Phase 2 clinical trial of XOMA 052 in Type 1 diabetes patients

XOMA Ltd., a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial of XOMA 052, its antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), in Type 1 diabetes patients. Funding for the trial is being provided by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the largest patient advocacy organization of Type 1 diabetes research worldwide.

12 Mar 2010

Age-related macular degeneration affects central vision in older Americans

Indianapolis resident Harry Traugott was an active retiree, participating in community events, driving and even teaching English as a second language at two community centers. He’d been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but the disease had not caused significant vision loss. It wasn’t until he had trouble seeing while driving, watching television

11 Mar 2010

StemCells reports net loss of $5.23M for fourth-quarter fiscal 2009

StemCells, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. The Company's results include the operations of Stem Cell Sciences Plc (SCS) since April 1, 2009.

11 Mar 2010

World through the eyes of a person with eye disease

Lighthouse International, the non-profit leader in vision healthcare, research, education and advocacy, launches a new website that features the first customizable, low-vision simulator that shows how a person with an eye disease sees the world. Visitors can choose a video from YouTube and select a filter that simulates retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.

6 Mar 2010

Crowding essentially 'blends' nearby objects together and makes the world appear more regular

As you read this, you may notice that the word directly in front of you is clear, but all the surrounding words are hard to make out. For most people, this effect - known as 'crowding' - is not a problem. However, for the millions of people worldwide who have lost their central vision through eye disease such as macular degeneration, it can make everyday tasks such as reading or recognising friends a challenge.

5 Mar 2010

2010 Federal Budget lacks substantive funding in support of heart health initiatives: HSF concerned

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) is concerned with the lack of any substantive funding in support of heart health initiatives as outlined in today's 2010 Federal Budget.

5 Mar 2010

Advanced Cell Technology’s MA09-hRPE cells for treatment of SMD: FDA grants orphan drug designation

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for the company’s MA09-hRPE cells for use in the treatment of Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD). As a result, the company is eligible to receive a number of benefits, including tax credits, access to grant funding for clinical trials, accelerated FDA approval and allowance for marketing exclusivity after drug approval for a period of as long as seven years.

3 Mar 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals commences dosing in clinical study of QPI-1007 for NAION

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, announced today the dosing of the first patient in a Phase I study of the investigational neuroprotective agent, QPI-1007.

2 Mar 2010

University of Michigan Health System opens new facility for eye care, diabetes research

On March 1, the first eye patients will enter an innovative new $132 million facility that expands the University of Michigan Health System's capacity for eye care, research and education, and unites diabetes researchers as they work to accelerate the search for a cure and prevention of diabetes.

27 Feb 2010

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Embryonic stem cells for replacement of diseased retinal cells and restoration of sight

An international research team led by Columbia University Medical Center successfully used mouse embryonic stem cells to replace diseased retinal cells and restore sight in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. This strategy could potentially become a new treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, a leading cause of blindness that affects approximately one in 3,000 to 4,000 people, or 1.5 million people worldwide.

25 Feb 2010

Phase 2 study results: VEGF Trap-Eye improves vision in patients with DME

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare AG announced that VEGF Trap-Eye showed positive results in a Phase 2 study in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

18 Feb 2010

UWM engineer creates software program that foresees outcome before stem cell divides

A software program created by an engineer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) can not only predict the types of specialized cells a stem cell will produce, but also foresee the outcome before the stem cell even divides.

17 Feb 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals' QPI-1002 receives orphan drug designation from FDA

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, announced today that the US FDA has granted orphan drug designation for QPI-1002 (also referred to as "I5NP"), a synthetic siRNA targeting p53 mRNA for the prophylaxis of delayed graft function (DGF) in kidney transplant patients.

17 Feb 2010

pSivida reports consolidated net loss of $24,000 for quarter ended December 31, 2009

pSivida Corp. , a drug delivery company with two of the only three ophthalmic sustained release delivery products approved by the FDA for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced financial results for its second quarter and six months ended December 31, 2009.

12 Feb 2010

Scientists uncover new gene that could help save sight of patients with inherited blindness

The international research team led by the University of Leeds found that the TSPAN12 gene is faulty in patients with a disease known as FEVR (Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy), which affects the development of the eye.

12 Feb 2010

Macular Degeneration News and Research

Latest Macular Degeneration News and Research

Acucela, Otsuka Pharmaceutical granted FDA Fast Track designation for ACU-4429 in treatment of dry AMD

Reversal of aging in normal human cells

OVD issue highlights prevalence of eye problems in general population

Promedior raises $12M in Series C financing

XOMA 052 reduces adverse consequences that lead to development of congestive heart failure

XOMA initiates Phase 2 clinical trial of XOMA 052 in Type 1 diabetes patients

Age-related macular degeneration affects central vision in older Americans

StemCells reports net loss of $5.23M for fourth-quarter fiscal 2009

World through the eyes of a person with eye disease

Crowding essentially 'blends' nearby objects together and makes the world appear more regular

2010 Federal Budget lacks substantive funding in support of heart health initiatives: HSF concerned

Advanced Cell Technology’s MA09-hRPE cells for treatment of SMD: FDA grants orphan drug designation

Quark Pharmaceuticals commences dosing in clinical study of QPI-1007 for NAION

University of Michigan Health System opens new facility for eye care, diabetes research

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Embryonic stem cells for replacement of diseased retinal cells and restoration of sight

Phase 2 study results: VEGF Trap-Eye improves vision in patients with DME

UWM engineer creates software program that foresees outcome before stem cell divides

Quark Pharmaceuticals' QPI-1002 receives orphan drug designation from FDA

pSivida reports consolidated net loss of $24,000 for quarter ended December 31, 2009

Scientists uncover new gene that could help save sight of patients with inherited blindness

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

Macular Degeneration News and Research

Latest Macular Degeneration News and Research

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

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