Deals
OIS Index Posts a Strong Finish to 2019
The OIS Index of ophthalmic stocks made a strong comeback in Q4-2019, following a rough Q3. The index gained 16.2% in Q4, slightly underperforming the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (+21.1%) but outperforming the overall US stock market as measured by the Russell 3000 Index (+8.6%) and a composite of US medical device stocks (+6.9%). For the…
Read MoreOIS Index Outperforms
The OIS Index of ophthalmic stocks gained 5.4% in November, following a similar 5.2% gain in October. The index outperformed medical device stocks (+4.3%) and the broader US stock market (+3.6%) but lagged the biotech sector (+11.4%). The largest positive contributor was Adverum Biotechnologies (+50.1%), which continued its steady rebound from a September decline related…
Read MoreBausch, Clearside See Gains Post-Deal
When it comes to the stock market, Bausch Health’s has been rising steadily, up 4.1% in the past month, and on November 13 hit a 52-week high; Zacks Equity Research thinks the recent run may continue, and with good reason as the company just partnered with Clearside Biomedical to enter into the suprachoroidal space with…
Read MorePrivate 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…
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