AXIM Rolls Medical Marijuana Ball in Ophthalmology

AXIM Rolls Medical Marijuana Ball in Ophthalmology

Medical marijuana has quickly gained acceptance as a viable treatment for a variety of health conditions, such as the side effects of chemotherapy, the neurodegenerative effects of Alzheimer’s disease, certain seizures and chronic pain without the addictive effects of opioids. But in ophthalmology, medical marijuana has encountered the headwinds of controversy. The American Glaucoma Society…

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Allergan Makes a Play in Gene Editing

With its licensing agreement to develop genome-editing programs with Editas Medicine to treat retinal diseases, Allergan has made a move to partner with one of the leading players in the CRISPR genome-editing space at a time when the field is poised to take off. That’s not Allergan’s hype. A recent report by San Francisco-based Grand…

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J&J/AMO Deal Remaking Landscape

J&J/AMO Deal Remaking Landscape

The evolution of the ophthalmology sector continued with last week’s news that Johnson & Johnson would pay $4.3 billion to acquire Abbott Medical Optics, the company’s ophthalmology surgery business. The deal – if closed – promises to bring a newly engaged and energized Johnson & Johnson into ophthalmology. The company’s Vision Care business leads the…

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Alcon Looking at looking at EDOF and IOL Technology

Michael Onuscheck, global surgical franchise head for Alcon, a Novartis company, outlined the firm’s approach to innovation within the premium channel, which involves both internal development and external partnerships and acquisitions. In this decade, the focus of cataract innovation has shifted from safety, efficacy, and efficiency/throughput to refractive outcomes and meeting patients’ expectations with respect…

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Bausch + Lomb Highlights Leadership in IOLs

Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant Pharmaceuticals company, remains the only firm with an FDA-approved accommodating IOL, the Crystalens AO. Andrew Chang, general manager and senior vice president of Bausch + Lomb US Surgical, highlighted clinical data from a study of long-term quality of vision and patient satisfaction with accommodating and multifocal IOLs conducted by John…

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Eye on Five – April Edition

OIS - Eye on Five

FDA Approves Avedro Corneal Collagen Cross-linking Platform The US Food and Drug Administration finally gave a green light to Avedro Inc. for its KXL System, a corneal collagen cross-linking platform for the treatment of progressive keratoconus. An FDA joint panel recommended approval in February last year, but a month later the agency denied approval, asking…

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EyeGate Finds New Paths to Dollars, Deal

OIS Podcast

[creativ_pullleft colour=”light-gray” colour_custom=”” text=”Episode 072″] EyeGate Pharmaceuticals had hit a wall. Its venture investors were tapped out, and the company needed capital to continue running clinical trials on its lead product. CEO Stephen From turned to the public markets, leading the company through a unique – and small IPO. With $4 million from the offering,…

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Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC)

CEO Mark Shearman, MD, PhD, describes Applied Genetic Technologies Corp., known as AGTC, as a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing its proprietary gene vector technology for treatment of orphan monogenic diseases of the retina. AGTC signed an R&D partnership with Biogen to oversee biological development and commercialization of its platform, which Dr. Shearman described…

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Alcon – Google Innovation: Visions of Ophthalmology in 2020

Participants: William J. Link, PhD Prior to Versant, Bill was a general partner at Brentwood Venture Capital. He founded, and served as chairman and CEO of Chiron Vision. Chiron Vision was sold to Bausch and Lomb in 1997. View Full Profile Laurent Attias Laurent Attias is currently Senior Vice President, Head of Strategy, BD&L and…

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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…

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