Study: 1-year results with IOP-lowering implant

Ciliatech announced the 1-year results from its clinical trial evaluating its CID (cilioscleral interpositioning device) for treatment of open angle glaucoma and primary angle closure glaucoma. According to the company’s press release, the CID is an implant that is embedded between the ciliary body and sclera, designed to reduce IOP without penetrating the anterior chamber and without creating subconjunctival filtration. The company reported that in a cohort of 57 patients in the SAFARI III study, IOP was reduced by more than 41%, from 23.5 mm Hg at baseline to 13.9 mm Hg at 12 months. Use of topical therapy was reduced by 92%, and 86% of patients were medication-free. The press release noted that the CID was placed as a standalone procedure in the study without concomitant cataract surgery.

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Phase 2 study of investigational dry eye treatment nears enrollment target

OKYO Pharma announced that it has enrolled and randomized 90% of its patient target of 240 for the Phase 2 multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial for OK-101, a topical therapy with anti-inflammatory and pain-relief properties being investigated for treatment of dry eye disease. The company’s press release reported that it was thought enrollment would be reached this week, allowing for topline results by the end of this year.

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Study identifies antibody that could lead to retinitis pigmentosa treatment

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have discovered an antibody that, according to the institution’s press release, might lead to a treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. The researchers used “a special type of llama-derived antibody, known as a nanobody, that can halt the process of rhodopsin photoactivation, allowing it to be investigated at high resolution.” The investigators found that the nanobodies target an “unexpected site on the rhodopsin molecule” and found that they had stabilizing effects on rhodopsin mutations, specifically for rhodopsin-associated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. The press release described plans for future research that could eventually lead to the creation of a nanobody gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa.

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Gene therapy for inherited optic neuropathy approved for clinical trials

Neurophth Therapeutics was approved in Australia to begin clinical trials for NFS-05, a gene therapy targeting autosomal dominant optic atrophy, which is a form of inherited optic neuropathy. According to the company’s press release, NFS-05 delivers a functional OPA1 gene into the vitreous, which is the most likely gene to have mutated in this condition, leading to expression of the OPA1 protein in retinal ganglion cells.

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ASCRS news and events

• ASCRS Annual Meeting: The call for submissions for the 2024 ASCRS Annual Meeting is going on now through October 9. Find submission details here.
• ASCRS Live Webinar: “A Challenging Day in the OR: Tough Choices in IOL Selection,” a live educational event, will take place Tuesday, September 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Register now for this webinar that will cover four unique cases.

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Research highlights

• Research published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery sought to determine how incomplete IOL coverage by the capsulorhexis can affect IOL position. The study was single-center and retrospective, including 57 eyes of 57 patients who had an SN60WF IOL (Alcon) implanted between April 2010 and April 2015. Coverage of the optic by the capsulorhexis was evaluated by the anterior eye segment analysis system (EAS-1000, Nidek) at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postop. Twenty-five eyes were found to have incomplete coverage of the capsulorhexis and 32 complete coverage. The authors reported a significantly higher amount of IOL decentration in the incomplete coverage group than the complete coverage group. IOL decentration seemed to occur in the opposite direction of the area of incomplete capsulorhexis coverage.
• A prospective, randomized, multicenter study published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology evaluated the safety and efficacy of preservative-free latanoprost, 0.005% (T2345) and benzalkonium chloride-preserved latanoprost, 0.005% (BPL) for patients with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The study enrolled 335 patients across 31 U.S. sites whose IOP was already adequately controlled with latanoprost monotherapy. The patients were randomized to receive one of the two study drops after a 72-hour washout period. The investigators found that both drops adequately controlled IOP, but there were fewer treatment-emergent adverse events and suspected treatment-emergent adverse events in the T2345 group compared to the BPL group. The most common adverse events related to treatment were pain at instillation and conjunctival hyperemia.

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Product news

• Carl Zeiss Meditec unveiled several updates to its products, including the new AT ELANA 841P trifocal IOL (not FDA approved), presbyopia management in its Corneal Refractive Workflow, advances in hyperopia indications for SMILE pro (not yet FDA approved or CE marked for this indication), combined corneal topography and dry eye assessment in the ATLAS 500, and therapeutic laser enhancements and connectivity improvements with the VISULAS portfolio.
• Rayner announced advances to its RayPRO digital insights tool and unveiled Peer2Peer 2.0, a clinical education platform.
• Apotex released brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.1%, for IOP lowering in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

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