- New and updated products for cataract workflow announced
- FDA approves first biosimilar in ophthalmology
- Acquisition of gene therapy company
- Licensing agreement for compounds targeting Demodex mites
- ASCRS news and events
September 24, 2021 • Volume 27, Number 38
New and updated products for cataract workflow announced
Carl Zeiss Meditec introduced new products and updates to its Zeiss Medical Ecosystem, which connects devices, data, and applications to improve efficiency and performance, according to the company. Among these products is the new Zeiss QUATERA 700, phaco technology that improves chamber stability independent of IOP and flow. Software applications were also announced for the Zeiss Cataract Workflow: Zeiss EYEGUIDE, a virtual coach for patients and clinics to stay connected, and the Zeiss Surgery Optimizer, a surgical video tool for self-training and standardization of surgical techniques. The company also announced an update to its CT LUCIA 621 monofocal IOL and introduced the new OPTIKIT (a customizable surgical pack) and the new VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser.
FDA approves first biosimilar in ophthalmology
Samsung Bioepis and Biogen announced that the FDA approved BYOOVIZ (ranibizumab-nuna) as a biosimilar to LUCENTIS (ranibizumab, Genentech) for treatment of wet AMD, macular edema following RVO, and myopic choroidal neovascularization. This is the first biosimilar in ophthalmology. According to the company’s press release, Samsung Bioepis and Biogen have a global license agreement with Genentech, which allows them to market BYOOVIZ in the U.S. beginning in June 2022 and in other territories after Genentech’s supplementary protection certificates expire.
Acquisition of gene therapy company
Novartis announced its acquisition of Arctos. According to the company’s press release, with this acquisition Novartis gains one preclinical optogenetic AAV gene therapy program and proprietary technology that has a distinct mechanism of action. Arctos has been developing technology to potentially treat inherited retinal dystrophies and diseases that involve photoreceptor loss. According to Novartis’ press release, the Arctos technology is not limited to a specific gene and could potentially address many inherited retinal diseases regardless of the mutation causing the condition.
Licensing agreement for compounds targeting Demodex mites
Glaukos has entered into an agreement with Attillaps Holdings that gives it an exclusive global license to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize Attillaps’ library of investigational pharmaceutical compounds targeting Demodexmites. According to the Glaukos press release, the compounds use acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for treatment of ophthalmic diseases caused by the mites. These compounds have shown promising in vitro, preclinical results.
ASCRS news and events
- 2022 ASCRS Annual Meeting: ASCRS is accepting submissions for courses, papers, posters, films, and photos until October 11. Visit the Call for Submissions website for more information about the submission process.
- ASCRS Glaucoma Building Blocks: Registration is open for a limited time for this complete, on-demand CME series in comprehensive glaucoma management. Learn more and register for this program to strengthen your foundation in modern glaucoma management.
- CME opportunity: “ASCRS Satellite CME: Supplemental Education to the ASCRS Annual Meeting” includes four, 1-hour programs captured from the 2021 Annual Meeting that are now available online and on-demand for viewing/claiming credit. Learn more.
Research highlights
- A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis sought to determine the national incidence and risk factors associated with endophthalmitis in the 90 days following cataract surgery in the U.S., finding that it occurred in 1.36 per 1,000 cataract surgeries between 2011 and 2019. The authors noted a decreasing trend in postoperative endophthalmitis rates during the 9-year study period. Risk of endophthalmitis was increased among patients 75 years and older, among patients who were black or Native American, and among patients who had prior history of invasive glaucoma surgery. Cataract surgery combined with retinal surgery and cases when the Charlson comorbidity index was greater than 0 were also associated with an increased likelihood of developing endophthalmitis. Endophthalmitis risk was lower among females than males. The research is published in the journal Ophthalmology.
- Research published in the journal Eye evaluated the safety and efficacy of endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP) combined with phaco in surgically naïve patients with primary open angle glaucoma. Eighty-three eyes from 83 patients were eligible for the retrospective case series analysis. The mean number of topical agents after combined ECP and phaco was 1.3±1.2 at 1 year, 1.7±1.2 at 2 years, and 1.8±1.3 at 3 years; baseline was 2.7±0.9. Mean IOP was reduced to 14.3±4.7 mm Hg at 1 year, 14.1±4.0 mm Hg at 2 years, and 13.6±3.7 mm Hg at 3 years from a baseline of 18.4 ± 5.2 mm Hg. Overall, the authors determined the combined procedure to be safe and effective at significantly lowering IOP and reducing medication burden in this patient population.
Product news
- Voptica introduced its new ArtIOL, which has an inverted meniscus to improve peripheral vision. The lens is approved in European markets, but the company plans to seek FDA approval in the future.
This issue of EyeWorld Weekly was edited by Stacy Jablonski and Liz Hillman.
EyeWorld Weekly (ISSN 1089-0319), a digital publication of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), is published every Friday, distributed by email, and posted live on Friday.
Medical Editors: Eric Donnenfeld, MD, Chief Medical Editor; Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, Cataract Editor; Clara Chan, MD, Cornea Editor; Nathan Radcliffe, MD, Glaucoma Editor; and Vance Thompson, MD, Refractive Editor
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