| Glaucoma Today’s September 7, 2010, Online Survey |
Which intravitreal injection technique do you use? |
| A. |
Standard straight scleral incision |
| B. |
Scleral tunnel incision |
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| The Results of Our Last Question |
Are you satisfied with the current functional measures of the presence and progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy? |
| A. |
Yes (10%) |
| B. |
No (90%) |
Allergan Receives FDA Approval for Lumigan 0.01%
Allergan, Inc. (Irvine, CA), announced that the FDA has approved Lumigan 0.01% as a first-line therapy to reduce elevated IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Lumigan 0.01%, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, is a reformulation of Lumigan 0.03%.
"Once-a-day prostaglandins are becoming a therapy of choice based on their efficacy, systemic safety and ease of use," said L. Jay Katz, MD, director of the Glaucoma Service at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, in a news release. "Based on its efficacy and tolerability, Lumigan 0.01% should be considered early in the treatment continuum as an alternative to other prostaglandins or therapies." Lumigan 0.01% will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010 and is the newest addition to Allergan’s glaucoma portfolio.
Tunneled Scleral Injection Technique May Increase IOP in Patients With AMD
Using a tunneled scleral injection technique may increase IOP in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published in Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.
Forty-five eyes (45 patients) with AMD and no history of glaucoma received injections of intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis; Genentech, Inc.). Thirty-one eyes received an injection through a standard straight scleral incision, and 14 eyes were injected using a tunneled scleral injection technique. IOP was measured by Schiotz tonometry, and the amount of subconjunctival reflux was documented on a semiquantitative scale.
The mean preoperative IOP was 22.4 ±5.5 mm Hg. Postoperatively, the mean IOP increased to 21.9 ±14.2 mm Hg in eyes that received an injection through a standard straight scleral incision and 33.5 ±7.2 mm Hg in eyes in which a tunneled scleral injection technique was used (P = 0.001).1
Fight for Sight Awards Grants to Young Glaucoma Specialists
Fight for Sight, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ophthalmic research, announced its 64th annual selection of grantees for outstanding research projects, and five of them will be studying glaucoma.
Thirty-five grants valued at $288,300 total have been awarded to researchers, including seven postdoctoral awards, five grants-in-aid, and 23 summer student fellowships. This year’s grants fund research on glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, aniridia, cataract, dry eye syndrome, and amblyopia. Ximena Arata, MD, of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary; Emilie Chan, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; Siya Huo, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic; and Marc Succi, MD, and Guadalupe Villarreal Jr, MD, both of Harvard Medical School in Boston, will be pursuing glaucoma research.
The Fight for Sight grant was created to let awardees obtain preliminary results and the experience necessary to successfully apply for larger federal and foundation awards, according to a news release. For a full list of 2010 grantees, visit www.fightforsight.org.
AAO to Present Bradley R. Straatsma With Prestigious Laureate Award
The AAO will present its highest honor, the 2010 Laureate Recognition Award, to Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, JD, for his distinguished career and contributions to ophthalmology, the AAO announced in a news release. Dr. Straatsma will be presented with the award on October 17, 2010, at the Academy’s Joint Meeting with the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology in Chicago.
Dr. Straatsma is a professor of ophthalmology emeritus at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California. He is widely acclaimed as a pioneer in the study of peripheral retinal disease, investigations of tumors, and research on ophthalmic conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and cataract.
"In recognition for his commitment to teaching and education, and for his professional leadership on many fronts, we acknowledge the debt we all owe to him for his remarkable achievements," Randy Johnston, MD, president of the AAO, said in the news release. "Dr. Straatsma is truly recognized worldwide as a leader in ophthalmic research, clinical care, and education."
Novartis Completes Acquisition of Majority Stake in Alcon
Novartis AG (Basel, Switzerland) announced that it has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Alcon, Inc. (Huenenberg, Switzerland), even as Alcon’s minority shareholders continue to lobby for a higher value on the remaining shares.
In the deal, which was first announced on April 6, 2008, Novartis acquires 156 million shares of Alcon from Nestlé (Vevey, Switzerland) for $28.3 billion, bringing the total value to $38.7 billion for a 77% control of Alcon’s outstanding shares. Following the announcement, the five Nestlé-designated members of the Alcon board of directors tendered their resignations, and the election of the five Novartis-designated directors, announced on August 16, 2010, was deemed effective, according to Alcon.
The remaining 23% of Alcon is still in the control of its minority shareholders. In January 2010, Novartis said it would pay Nestlé $180 a share in cash, with plans to buy the remaining stake held by Alcon minority shareholders for just $153 per share, a figure that has since dropped due to a declining share price. Alcon’s Independent Director Committee (IDC), which represents the minority shareholders, has strongly and publically opposed the deal, calling it "grossly inadequate" and "fundamentally flawed."
On Thursday, the Alcon IDC said the closing of the deal was expected and does not affect their position.
"We look forward to negotiating a deal that affords fair value to Alcon’s minority shareholders," Thomas G. Plaskett, chairman of the IDC, said in a news release. "An agreed transaction is in the best interests of all stakeholders and is clearly preferable to protracted litigation, which would delay critical steps in the integration process. However, we are ready to defend the rights of Alcon and its minority shareholders if Novartis refuses to negotiate a fair deal," he added. Meanwhile, Novartis said it plans to move forward with its plans to gain full control of Alcon.
"Our proposal to fully merge the two companies remains," said Joe Jimenez, Novartis’s chief executive officer, in a conference call. "We are disappointed that we haven’t reached a solution yet . . . but we aren’t in a hurry [to take full control of Alcon]."
If Novartis’ shares rise over the next few weeks, the offer to Alcon’s minority shareholders would improve, because the current deal calls for Alcon shareholders to receive 2.8 Novartis shares for each Alcon share.
Novartis maintains that, upon taking majority control from Nestlé, Swiss law allows it to buy out the minority shareholders in a share swap. Strongly opposing that stand, the Alcon IDC set up a $50 million litigation trust and is preparing to fight the proposed acquisition offer from Novartis.
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