BVI buys Endo Optiks

Beaver-Visitec International (BVI, Waltham, Mass.) has bought Endo Optiks (Little Silver, N.J.), BVI said in a news release. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Endo Optiks is best known for its E2 combined laser and endoscopy system and the E4 endoscopy system for the treatment of glaucoma and retinal diseases via minimally invasive endoscopy, BVI said.

In Memorium: Arthur Lim, 80

Professor Arthur Lim, who helped establish the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) as well as the Singapore Eye Research Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology at National University Hospital, has passed away at age 80.

In 1996, Prof. Lim was awarded the Friendship Award by the Chinese government for working toward eradicating cataract blindness in China. Among his other accomplishments was introducing microsurgical techniques and IOL implant technology to the region. In January of this year, a professorship in his honor was created by SNEC and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore.

Ozurdex granted EU approval for DME

The European Union has granted marketing authorization for Ozurdex (dexamethasone 700 mcg intravitreal implant in applicator, Allergan, Irvine, Calif.) for the treatment of "adult patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME) who are pseudophakic, or who are considered insufficiently responsive to or unsuitable for non-corticosteroids therapy," Allergan said in a news release. In the U.S., Ozurdex is approved to treat DME in pseudophakic patients or in patients already scheduled to undergo cataract surgery.

Ozurdex is available in the E.U. as a treatment for macular edema in patients with retinal vein occlusion and for inflammation of the posterior segment of the eye characterized as non-infectious uveitis. 

Aerie Pharmaceuticals (Bedminster, N.J.) has enrolled its first patients in a phase 3 registration trial in Canada of Rhopressa, a novel once-daily, triple-action eye drop being tested for its ability to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, the company said. The "Rocket 3" study will evaluate patients over a 12-month period; 2 other U.S. phase 3 studies were previously announced. Aerie anticipates total enrollment of approximately 1,300 patients in the three phase 3 trials of Rhopressa.

Jetrea gains approval in Taiwan, reimbursement in Spain

ThromboGenics (Leuven, Belgium) announced Jetrea (ocriplasmin) has been approved in Taiwan, and the Spanish Ministry of Health has approved the reimbursement of Jetrea for the treatment of adults with vitreomacular traction (VMT), including when associated with macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 μm. Marketing partner Alcon (Fort Worth, Texas) holds all rights to the drug outside the U.S.

In other company news, ThromboGenics has spun off its oncology research activities to concentrate on further developing Jetrea beyond symptomatic VMA/VMT, the company said.

Iluvien granted national marketing authorization in Sweden

Iluvien (190 micrograms fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant in applicator), for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies, has been granted marketing authorization in Sweden, developer Alimera Sciences (Atlanta, Ga.) said in a news release.

Sweden is now the 10th country to grant national marketing authorization. Iluvien is commercially available in the U.K. and Germany. 

Uni-Bio Science inks deal with Samil

Uni-Bio Science Group Limited (Hong Kong) will become the exclusive distributor for Samil (Korea) in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, Uni-Bio announced. Among the products covered in the deal: Ocucyclo, an anti-cholinergic agent for mydriasis and cycloplegia; latanoprost, for the treatment of open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension; and Allenol Eye Drop, for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.

RESEARCH BRIEFS

• Establishing what affects corneal epithelial permeability may lead to numerous clinical applications, a group of researchers said. T. Leung and colleagues collected data of corneal epithelial permeability to sodium fluorescein (Pdc) from 374 non-contact lens wearers at various times after awakening throughout the day. Two models evaluated the "Pdc recovery period" from awakening to 2 hours (Model 1) and the "Pdc plateau" period after time awake of 2 hours (Model 2). In Model 1, Pdc declined significantly with length of awake time and showed higher Pdc with males (p=0.098), although this gender difference was not observed after 2 hours (Model 2). Both models showed significantly higher Pdc in Asians than in non-Asians and increased Pdc with age (p=0.048, p=0.001). The study is published online ahead of print in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
• Severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an important risk factor for developing glaucoma, according to S.P. Hashim and colleagues. They assessed 39 patients aged >30 years who had been diagnosed with moderate and severe OSA in a sleep clinic at Hamad General Hospital (Qatar) for the presence of glaucoma. After undergoing a complete ophthalmic exam, 8/39 patients with OSA (20.5%) had glaucoma. Six (75%) of these patients had normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and 2 (25%) patients had high-tension glaucoma. Among the 27 patients with severe OSA, 7 (25.9%) had glaucoma, and among 12 patients with moderate OSA, 1 (8.3%) had glaucoma. During the course of follow-up, 2 patients who previously did not have glaucoma were reclassified as NTG and 2 patients with glaucoma deteriorated. A higher prevalence of glaucoma in the severe OSA group compared with the moderate OSA group was found, albeit a statistically significant difference could not be attained (P=0.4). The study is published ahead of print in Eye (London).
• Treatment with diquafosol 3% with preservative-free sodium hyaluronate 0.1% was more effective than diquafosol 3% monotherapy or treatment with preserved sodium hyaluronate 0.1% in dry eye syndrome, a study published in Cornea asserts. H.S. Hwang and colleagues randomized 150 patients with dry eye syndrome into 3 groups. Group 1 (50 patients) was treated 4 times daily with preserved sodium hyaluronate 0.1%, group 2 (50 patients) was treated 4 times daily with diquafosol 3%, and group 3 (50 patients) was treated 4 times daily with diquafosol 3% and preservative-free sodium hyaluronate 0.1% eye drops for 3 months. There were significant improvements in the OSDI score, tear film break-up time, Schirmer's I score, fluorescein and rose bengal staining, goblet cell density, and impression cytological findings in groups 2 and 3 compared with those for group 1 in patients with dry eye syndrome at 1, 2, and 3 months. There were statistically significant improvements in the OSDI score, fluorescein and rose bengal staining, goblet cell density, and impression cytological findings in group 3 compared with those in group 2 at 3 months.

NEW PRODUCT RELEASES

• Bio-Tissue (Doral, Fla.) launched the Cliradex Complete Advanced Lid Hygiene Kit. The product line "isolates 4-Terpineol, the most important ingredient in tea tree oil, which is scientifically proven to help manage symptoms of lid margin diseases, including blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, rosacea, dry eye and Demodex," the company said in a release.