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
August 2018
Abicipar pegol for wet age related macular degeneration
Abicipar pegol is a novel therapeutic approach that uses a new generation of genetically engineered proteins that exhibit highly specific and high‐affinity target protein binding. As
an anti‐VEGF‐A, it works by inhibiting the growth of immature blood vessels that grow in the retina, reducing the haemorrhaging and scarring that leads to vision impairment. Abicipar
pegol has the potential to require less frequent injections into the eye than the current standard of care, while providing equal improvements in vision. If licensed this could be an effective treatment option with greater compliance for patients with wet age‐related macular degeneration.