Ophthalmology Therapeutic Roundup — August 25, 2016

Here's a look at some of the latest news regarding ophthalmic drugs and therapies from the past week. 

• Earlier this week, Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced the completion the active recruitment phase of MATrX-1 — the first pivotal Phase 3 trial of trabodenoson for the treatment of glaucoma. The trial will include about 335 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) to study the efficacy, safety and tolerability of trabodenoson over three months of treatment. Inotek reportedly expects top-line data from the study in December 2016.
• Auven Therapeutics has announced it has completed patient enrollment for the Phase 3 confirmatory study of Seciera (OTX-101) — a novel patented nanomicellar formulation of cyclosporine for the treatment of dry eye disease. According to the company, results from the Phase 3 study will support filing of global regulatory applications for approval of Seciera for the treatment of dry eye disease.
• Earlier this week, Spark Therapeutics reported new data from the continuation of the Phase 3 trial of voretigene neparvovec for the potential treatment of inherited retinal disease (IRD) caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene. Of the Phase 3 participants that received voretigene neparvovec, 93 percent reportedly demonstrated a gain in functional vision at one year.
• Also earlier this week, Honeywell and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a voluntary recall of one production lot of 32 ounce bottles of Eyesaline Eyewash solution, which is used for emergency eye rinsing after an injury. Although no injuries had been reported and no contamination had been found in batch testing, the voluntary recall was a precautionary measure due to a low risk of product contamination with Klebsiella pneumoniae.
• Casebia Therapeutics — a joint venture between Bayer and CRISPR Therapeutics to discover, develop and commercialize therapeutics to cure blindness and other disorders — has recently started its operations in Cambridge, Mass. The company is currently hiring to fully staff its research and development team, which has begun research efforts on its initial therapeutic programs.
• Earlier today, Shire plc announced it was teaming up with actress Jennifer Aniston to raise awareness and understanding about chronic dry eye. Through the partnership, Shire has launched eyelove™ — an educational awareness campaign inspired by the wonderful things we can do and see because of our eyes. The initiative will include an art project October 7-8, 2016 in New York City.
• And Mallinckrodt recently entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Nuclear Imaging business to IBA Molecular. The move is reportedly in line with Mallinckrodt's strategic priorities to focus on enlarging its portfolio in the high-growth specialty pharmaceuticals space.