All GLG News Analyses Filed Under: Ophthalmology

Genentech, Inc.  is suspending sales of Avastin (bevacizumab) to compounding pharmacies in the United STates, in an effort to curb its non approved use for wet macular degenration. Recently, ophthalmologists have begun using the antiangiogenic cancer drug off-label to treat retinal neovascularization...

Silicone hydrogel materials will continue to push the boundaries of high oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t) and low modulus contact lenses. From a research and development standpoint, the fundamental starting materials have been under development for decades. CooperVision’s competitors in this arena have...

Alacrity Biosciences has completed a Phase 2 clinical trial of ALTY-1501, an eye drop for the treatment of dry eye. Dry eye (or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) affects more than 10% of the US population and its incidence is increasing as baby boomers become senior citizens. Although the small...

The newest silicone hydrogel contact lenses introduced to the market use a siloxane-based material, and include the Ciba O2 Optix Custom, the Coopervision Biofinity, and now the Menicon PremiO.  I have yet to get my hands on and prescribe any of these lenses so I don't have any first accounts...

Genentech is aiming to curb the off-label use of Avastin in favor of its blockbluster AMD drug Lucentis (which costs 50x more!).  These attempts will make it more difficult to prescribe Avastin and help them boost sales of Lucentis in the short term.  However, in the long term, Genentech is...

ALTY-0501 is new medication being used in the Dry Eye Market.  This reports reveals positive results from a Phase 2 Study.  It is exciting as there are limited products for treating Dry Eye; and this could be a new rival from Restatisis (Allergan; AGN).

An extensive meta-analysis by Wong et al involving a 149,203 patients shows that antioxidants do not prevent early macular degeneration (the formation of drusen.)  However, it does not refute the role of antioxidants in preventing wet or advanced macular degeneration (AMD). ...

Genetech (DNA) is looking to curb the off label use of its oncology medications (Avastin) in order to boost Lucentis sales.  It is a terrible PR move for the company that exposes its greed and bumbling moves but a good fianancial decision to maximize its profits for Lucentis. 

       Genentech has had first year revenues of $800 million from its drug Lucentis, which is used intravitreaaly to treat macular degeneration on label and some other conditions off label.   Although this amount of sales places Lucentis well within the blockbuster...

-Avastin has been repackaged by some compounding pharmacies in place of Lucentis for an indication for which Avastin is not approved.  They are both Genentech drugs, but with Lucentis being much more expensive.  -This is a bit like grinding up amoxicillin tablets, making them into a suspension,...