Here's a look at some of the latest news regarding ophthalmic drugs and therapies from the past week.
- Yesterday, biotechnology company ThromboGenics NV announced it had received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for a new already-diluted formulation of its Jetrea® (ocriplasmin) for the treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA).
- Avellino Labs has recently entered into a multiyear collaborative research and intellectual property agreement with Ulster University in Northern Ireland. The agreement is reportedly to develop new gene editing technologies and create a therapeutic platform applicable to a wide range of inherited ophthalmic conditions.
- Earlier this week, Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. announced topline results from its second Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Dextenza™ (sustained release dexamethasone) Intracanalicular Depot for the treatment of ocular itching associated with chronic allergic conjunctivitis.
- Also this week, Genentech — a member of the Roche Group — reported positive results for the GiACTA Phase III study, which evaluated Actemra® (tocilizumab) in people with giant cell arteritis (GCA). GCA is a serious condition where arteries, commonly in the head but also the aorta and its branches, become inflamed. Vision problems reportedly occur in approximately 30 percent of people with GCA, and about 15 percent experience permanent vision loss.
- Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently announced plans to focus all future clinical efforts on their Phase 2 NT‐501 programs, with the goal of exploring the therapeutic potential of Encapsulated Cell Therapy (ECT) to deliver Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF) in patients with macular telangiectasia (MacTel) and glaucoma.
- And pharmaceutical company Novaliq GmbH recently reported it had enrolled the last patient for its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety, efficacy and tolerability of CyclASol® for the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED).