A cataract is any opacity of the lens, whether it is a small local opacity or a diffuse general loss of transparency. Sometimes, it can cause a significant reduction in visual acuity or a functional impairment. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world. Cataract surgery is currently the only effective treatment to improve or maintain vision. Inflammation and pain are the most common difficulties associated with cataract surgery. These difficulties often cause significant patient discomfort, delayed recovery and reduced visual outcome. Treatment of inflammation and pain following cataract surgery are commonly managed with anti-inflammatory eye drops that contain steroids and painkillers.
ISV-305 is an eye drop medication being developed to administer the steroid drug, dexamethasone, to treat inflammation and pain following cataract surgery. ISV-305 uses an innovative vehicle that stabilizes the dexamethasone on the surface of the eye for up to 4-6 hours, during which time the active drug is gradually released. The increased time that ISV-305 remains in the eye allows lower concentrations of a drug to be administered over a longer period of time. If licensed, ISV-305 has the potential to improve safety concerns and treatment adherence through reduced dosing regimen in the treatment of inflammation and pain that occurs after a cataract surgery.
Drugs
June 2018
Ranibizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity – first line
Ranibizumab is a medicinal product already available for treating a range of visual impairments in adult patients. It is injected directly into the eye and it works by preventing abnormal blood vessels from developing and growing in the eye (one of the causes of ROP) by blocking a protein called VEGF. If ranibizumab is licenced for treatment of ROP, it will be the first anti-VEGF medication to be approved for the treatment of ROP. This will potentially provide an alternative treatment to laser and surgical treatments for ROP.