Deals
Private Financing Trends: Ophthalmology Ranks Tenth
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Almost $25 billion in venture funds have been raised in just the United States alone over the past 2.5 years to deploy into venture-backed healthcare companies, said Jonathan Norris, managing director at Silicon Valley Bank, during this year’s OIS@AAO conference, and ophthalmology has grabbed the No. 10 spot. Mr. Norris highlighted…
Read MoreOIS Index on Positive Upswing
The OIS Index of ophthalmic stocks gained 5.2% in October, posting its first month of positive performance since June. The index lagged the biotech sector (+7.7%) and outperformed an index of medical device stocks (+0.8%) and the broader US stock market (+2.0%). The largest positive contributor was STAAR Surgical (+27.2%), driven by strong Q3 results.…
Read MoreOpthea’s Star Brightens for Stakeholders
It’s been a good year for Opthea Ltd., a biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia. It’s listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), trading as OPT. Opthea is a top performer in the OIS Index of ophthalmic biotech and biopharma companies. While the OIS Index was down 12.0% over the 3 months from July through…
Read MoreAt OIS: Rarities and Thought Provokers
OIS Contributors An eye drop with the potential to fix, albeit temporarily, presbyopia. An artificial endothelial cornea, ready for trial. A neurostimulation device for dry eye in which all 180 trial participants experienced a reduction in symptoms. Two Phase III trials – one on the horizon, for ocular graft versus host designation, the other, already…
Read MoreOIS Index Deep in Bear Territory in Q3
The OIS Index of ophthalmic stocks posted a miserable Q3 performance, led by the biopharmaceutical stocks in the index. The OIS Index (-12.0%) underperformed the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (-8.8%), the overall US stock market as measured by the Russell 3000 Index (+0.7%), and a composite of US medical device stocks (+2.7%). Declining stocks in the…
Read MoreRetina Treatment Beyond Protocol
CHICAGO — Optimal treatment of retinal diseases hinges on better understanding in three primary areas, said an expert panel at OIS@ASRS 2019: the disease mechanisms involved; individual patient differences; and the timing of injections. A fourth point involves treatment yet to be developed: A safe, effective, long-term delivery system for anti-VEGF agents. Panel moderator Robert…
Read MoreWhat Has 50 Companies, Four Breakout Sessions, Winning Pitch Winners, and a Keynote Conversation? OIS@AAO 2019
SAN FRANCISCO — Winners of a “Shark Tank” style challenge in cataract/refractive and retina and specialty showcase sessions targeting four themes, including gene and cell therapy and drug delivery, are two of the new wrinkles in this year’s OIS@AAO to be held at the Hilton Union Square here. Fifty companies in all will be presenting…
Read More5 Factors for Evaluating Investments in the Retina Space
As noted in a previous installment, innovators in the retina space sometimes utilize ex-US partnerships for financing the expensive process of taking drugs and devices all the way through development. But innovators must consider a number of other critical factors – five to be exact: whether to work with a small or a large investment…
Read MoreAs Retina Innovators Look Outside US for Funding, Here’s What to Watch Out For
CHICAGO – As innovation in the retina space has grown over the past quarter century, so has the need for capital to finance those activities. One way innovators are meeting that need is by entering into partnerships with ex-US entities, one of many issues explored by a panel session on financing retina innovation at OIS@ASRS…
Read MoreA Closer Look at Glaukos’ Bid for Avedro
Early market reaction to Glaukos Corp.’s all-stock acquisition of Avedro Inc. was mixed; a decrease in stock price for Glaukos and an increase for Avedro. Despite that lukewarm reaction, the acquisition has the potential to bring together companies with complementary platforms and improve Glaukos’ scale for R&D. Glaukos, based in San Clemente, CA, is focused…
Read MoreOIS Index Posts Modest Gain for Q2; Ophthalmic Market Leader Alcon Joins Index
The OIS Index of ophthalmic stocks posted a modest positive return of +0.8% during the second quarter of 2019. The index outperformed the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (–2.4%) but lagged the overall US stock market as measured by the Russell 3000 Index (+4.3%) and a composite of US medical device stocks (+4%). Declining stocks in the…
Read MoreA Closer Look at AbbVie-Allergan Deal and Where Eye Care Fits In
NEW YORK – In what’s been called “a transformative move for both companies,” AbbVie has agreed to buy Allergan in a deal valued at $63 billion. Reaction from the investor community was deeply mixed. The announcement on Tuesday set off the worst day for AbbVie’s stock since it was spun off from its parent company,…
Read More