Weekly Ophthalmic Newsletter

1. Six Cases of Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis Reported After Apellis’ Syfovre Injection

After the initial approval of Apellis Pharmaceuticals'?geographic atrophy?drug?Syfovre (pegcetacoplan injection), six cases of retinal vasculitis have been reported. The ASRS Research and Safety in Therapeutics (ReST) Committee issued a notification disclosing these safety concerns to ASRS members, resulting in a significant decline in Apellis' shares on Monday, closing down approximately 38%.

According to the ASRS ReST Committee, physicians have reported cases of intraocular inflammation (IOI) following the administration of Syfovre. These reports encompassed instances of mild-moderate IOI, as well as severe IOI, retinal vasculitis, and occlusive retinal vasculitis.

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2. New App Detects Glaucoma, Cataracts and Diabetic Retinopathy in Seconds

Two students on the Master's Degree in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) have successfully developed a mobile app capable of detecting?glaucoma,?diabetic retinopathy, and?cataracts?within a matter of seconds. These three conditions are among the most common causes of vision loss and blindness worldwide.

Using?artificial intelligence, the app analyzes a selfie and promptly issues a diagnosis. In case of a positive diagnosis, the user is directed towards the most suitable medical specialist for further evaluation and treatment.

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3. Harrow Acquires Santen’s Branded Ophthalmic Portfolio

Harrow?announced the acquisition of certain US and Canadian commercial rights to several branded ophthalmic products from?Santen.?The transaction includes U.S. and Canadian commercial rights to Flarex?, Natacyn?, Tobradex? ST, Verkazia?, Zerviate?, and Non-Prescription Brands Freshkote? and Cationorm? Plus.

“This acquisition furthers Harrow’s goal of becoming a leader in the top tier of US ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies, makes Harrow’s branded portfolio one of the most comprehensive in the US market, and is expected to be immediately financially accretive upon the transfer of the product marketing authorizations," Mark L. Baum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harrow, said in a company news release.

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4. Stimulation of Melanopsin Cells Can Enhance Visual Acuity, Study Finds

Professors Sei-ichi Tsujimura from Nagoya City University and Su-Ling Yeh from National Taiwan University and Kagoshima University have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding our visual acuity (contrast sensitivity). They found that using a light with a specific spectrum capable of selectively stimulating melanopsin cells in the?retina?can enhance contrast sensitivity.

Professor Tsujimura's team has developed an experimental device that, for the first time globally, can specifically stimulate melanopsin cells by adjusting the light's color spectrum. They conducted experiments to investigate the contribution of melanopsin cells to contrast sensitivity. Contrast sensitivity refers to the ability to distinguish between different shades of brightness in text and images and is a vital aspect of our vision.

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5. BVI Boosts IOL Capacity with New-State-of-the-Art Facility in Belgium

BVI announced the opening of its state-of-the-art facility in Liège, Belgium. This remarkable development translates into a substantial increase in BVI's capacity for intraocular lens (IOL) business, opening doors to new growth prospects and solidifying the company's position as a leader in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

Emphasizing efficiency, sustainability, and compliance, the new facility was meticulously designed to optimize delivery processes. A comprehensive review was undertaken to enhance yield and efficiency, aligning with BVI's commitment to operational excellence.

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