Drug Delivery | Ophthalmology Innovation Source

Aerie Pharmaceuticals

Rhopressa is a Rho-kinase inhibitor that increases the outflow of the trabecular meshwork by relaxing it. It’s also a norepinephrine transport inhibitor that decreases the amount of fluid being produces, and drops episcleral venous pressure. Aerie has completed two phase III trials, with the Rocket 2 data being used to file the NDA for the…

Ophthotech Corporation

Fovista is an anti-platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) agent for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) combination therapy currently in phase 3 studies. Pending regulatory approval, Ophthotech will commercialize Fovista in the U.S., and has partnered with Novartis outside the U.S. in a deal worth more than $1 billion in upfront and potential milestone payments. The…

Alimera

Alimera Sciences is “dedicated to change the paradigm of how we think about and subsequently treat diabetic macular edema (DME),” Mr. Myers said. Iluvien is a fluocinolone (corticosteroid) implant for the treatment of DME. One implant releases 0.2 mcg per day, giving patients up to 3 years’ worth of therapy. Iluvien is “a real advancement…

Implandata

Implandata Ophthalmic Products GmbH (IOP GmbH), located in Hanover/Germany, is destined to transform management of glaucoma patients via a unique solution for early detection of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), for reliable IOP patient self-measurement, for vastly improved disease monitoring and glaucoma therapy and for more efficient remote patient care. www.implandata.com Participant: Max G. Ostermeier, MBA…

ForSight VISION5

The company is addressing non-adherence to eyedrops in glaucoma and in ocular hypertension. There remains a true, unmet need to provide clinically relevant intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction with a simple non-invasive product for patients who do not or cannot take their medications. ForSIGHT has developed Helios, a soft, preservative-free ring infused with bimataprost that is…

Envisia Therapeutics

This company, founded as a spin-out of Liquidia Technologies in 2013, began with a $25 million Series A, with the goal of developing the PRINT particle platform for ophthalmic indications. The PRINT platform can be applied to make “very precise drug delivery systems for the eye,” Dr. Yerxa said, as anything that can be manufactured…

Mati Therapeutics

Mati is developing a punctal plug drug delivery technology for sustained drug delivery using an “L-shaped” design to deliver medications to the canalicular space. Insertion is via slit lamp, with only the initial procedure requiring patient dilation. The company’s device separates itself from others in that there is a one-directional drug flow out of the…

Graybug

Graybug is developing injectable controlled-release technologies to allow dosing once every four to six months for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), thereby reducing patient burden from 20+ injections yearly to two to three injections. The company is planning to file an Investigational New Drug application before year-end. Graybug licensed the simple, particle…

A Record-Setting OIS

Last week’s Ophthalmology Innovation Summit drew nearly 1,000 attendees to Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood hotel, marking the largest OIS event we’ve held yet. The size of the audience only added to the energy of what’s becoming a kickoff tradition for the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting. Three dozen ophthalmology companies – representing Drug Delivery,…

Celniker Gets Eleven Bio Ready For OIS and Conference Season

[creativ_pullleft colour=”light-gray” colour_custom=”” text=”Episode 065″] Eleven Biotherapeutics last spring issued some disappointing news when its leading project, EBI-005, didn’t fare well in a Phase III trial for Dry Eye. However, the company’s AMP-Rx platform is chugging along and its EBI-005 is making progress against other conditions including allergic conjunctivitis. CEO and President Abbie C. Celniker,…

Opthea Exploring Different Approach To Treating Wet AMD

[creativ_pullleft colour=”light-gray” colour_custom=”” text=”Episode 055″] Australia-based Opthea is moving forward with clinical trials in the US, testing its OPT-302 compound along and in combination with Lucentis as a potential treatment for Wet AMD. CEO Megan Baldwin explains the company’s approach up until now and its plans going forward. Podcast Guest Megan Baldwin Dr. Megan Baldwin…

How Could the 21st Century Cures Act Aid Innovation?

There’s more to the 21st Century Cures Act, which passed the full House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, than $9 billion in new funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to pick up the pace of medical research. The legislation also includes a number of provisions that would speed up the Food and…