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Industry Briefs
Recent developments in the vision care industry
Modified Tecnis IOL from AMO
Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) used the
occasion of the XXIV Congress of the
European Society of Cataract and
Refractive Surgeons to introduce the Tecnis
CL IOL, a modification of its Tecnis silicone
IOL. New features include: blue modified C
PMMA haptics for better visibility and
easier implantation of the lens; frosted
OptiEdge design for reduced edge glare and
reduced posterior capsule opacification; and
patented silicone material for long-term
biocompatibility.The Tecnis CL can be
implanted with the Unfolder Silver Series
Implantation Systems and the Silver
Advanced Cartridge through a 2.8mm
incision.The Tecnis CL permanently
replaces both the Z9000 and Z9001 Tecnis
silicone IOL models.The lens is available
now in Europe, and the company plans to
begin shipping the lens in the North
American and Asian markets by next spring.
www.tecnisiol.com
Travatan Z approved
The US FDA approved a new formulation
of travoprost ophthalmic solution 0.004%
(Travatan, Alcon) for the reduction of
elevated intraocular pressure in patients
with open-angle glaucoma or ocular
hypertension, who are intolerant of or
unresponsive to other intraocular pressurelowering medications.The new formulation
differs from the original in that it does not
contain the preservative benzalkonium
chloride. Rather, the new version of the
glaucoma drug utilizes ‘Sofzia’, an ionic
buffered preservative system.The change
comes during a time of increasing concern
about long-term negative effects of
benzalkonium chloride on the ocular
surface.
On the financial front, Alcon announced a
plan to repurchase up to an additional five
million shares of its outstanding common
stock.The share repurchase programme is
designed to reduce dilution caused by
exercising employee stock options.
www.alconinc.com
CE Mark for Pascal coagulator
OptiMedica Corp announced that it had
received ISO 13485 certification and CE
Mark approval for the Pascal
Photocoagulator. The device received US
FDA approval earlier this year for use in
standard photocoagulation procedures
including pan-retinal photocoagulation and
macular grid. The device is now available
for sale internationally, with Europe and
Japan considered key markets. OptiMedica
holds the exclusive license to the Pascal
(PAttern SCAn Laser) method of
photocoagulation.
www.optimedica.com
Belt tightening at Bausch
Bausch and Lomb announced a reduction of
its workforce of 400 people.The reductions
will be felt in manufacturing facilities in
Europe and the US.The company reported
that most of the jobs involved contact lens
manufacturing and were temporary in
nature. Indeed, the company said it expects
to rehire some of these temporary
employees in the new year.The adjustments
will affect plants in Waterford, Ireland;
Livingston, Scotland; and Rochester, New
York, US.
www.bausch.com
AMO sells off contact solutions
Advanced Medical Optics (AMO)
announced a deal to sell six of its over-thecounter eye care products to Inyx, a
specialty pharmaceutical company.The deal
includes Lens Plus Aerosol, a sterile saline
solution; Lens Plus Rewetter Drops, a
sterile saline solution; Lens Plus Daily
Cleaner, a cleaner for soft contact lenses;
LC-65 Daily Contact Lens Cleaner, a
cleaner for gas permeable, hard and soft
contact lenses; Hydrocare Fizzy Tablets, an
effervescent, enzymatic cleaner in tablet
form; and Total Solution, a sterile cleaning
and wetting solution for hard contact
lenses (marketed in Europe and the Middle
East). Inyx will assign all the business and
marketing rights on these products to
Exaeris, a wholly owned marketing
subsidiary.The sale reflects AMO’s strategy
to emphasise refractive surgery, both laser
and lens-based.
www.amo-inc.com
Schering and Bausch to collaborate
German pharma giant Schering announced
it would collaborate with Bausch and Lomb
to develop and market a selective
glucocorticoid receptor agonist for the
non-systemic treatment of eye disorders.
Bausch will evaluate Schering compounds as
potential anti-inflammatory medications.
The hope is that selective glucocorticoid
receptor agonists will have a better safety
profile than standard glucocorticoids now
in use. Bausch agreed to make upfront and
milestone payments based on the
development and registration progress, and
to pay ongoing royalties based on product
sales.
www.schering-plough.com
AlphaCor changes hands
Addition Technology, the company that
makes Intacs corneal implants, has acquired
the AlphaCor company from CooperVision
Surgical. AlphaCor makes a flexible,
biointegratable, one-piece artificial cornea
designed to replace scarred or diseased
native cornea.The deal also includes
AlphaSphere, a soft, biocompatible orbital
implant that the company plans to launch
later this year.
www.getintacs.com
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