Weekly Ophthalmic Newsletter

1. Oculis Enrolls First Patient in LEOPARD Trial with OCS-01 Eye Drop for CME Treatment

Oculis Holding AG has recently reported the enrollment of the first patient in the investigator-initiated LEOPARD trial. The primary objective of this trial is to assess the potential efficacy of OCS-01 eye drops, a novel high concentration preservative-free topical OPTIREACH formulation of dexamethasone, in treating cystoid macular edema (CME).

OCS-01 eye drops are currently being investigated for the treatment of cystoid macular edema (CME),?diabetic macular edema?(DME), and inflammation and pain following ocular surgery.

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2. China Performs 5G Remote Micron Eye Surgery from 600 Kilometers Away

China successfully carried out a 5G remote micron eye surgery using a surgical robot in Hainan Province. The chief surgeon operated the?robotic arm?in Haikou City and performed subretinal therapy for an experimental animal located 600 kilometers away in South China's Guangdong Province.

The surgery was confirmed as safe and stable after a month of postoperative observation, as stated by Professor Lin Haotian from the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University.

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3. Electrospinning Offers Promising Treatment for Common Cause of Blindness

Scientists, led by Professor Barbara Pierscionek from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the field of ocular research. Using?nanotechnology, they have successfully created a 3D "scaffold" to grow retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which could revolutionize the treatment of a common cause of blindness.

The research focuses on?age-related macular degeneration?(AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the developed world, projected to affect 77 million Europeans by 2050 due to an aging population. AMD is characterized by changes in the Bruch's membrane, supporting the RPE cells, and the breakdown of the adjacent choriocapillaris, a crucial vascular bed.

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4. Skyline Therapeutics Receives FDA Clearance for Gene Therapy Trial in AMD

Skyline Therapeutics, a pioneering gene therapy company dedicated to combating rare and severe diseases, has announced that the FDA has given the green light to their investigational new drug (IND) application for a phase 1/2a clinical trial of SKG0106.

This one-time intravitreally delivered adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy targets the treatment of?neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

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5. Flinders University to Initiate World’s First SLT Trial for High-Risk Glaucoma Patients

In a world first, ophthalmology experts at Flinders University?will conduct a trial for early intervention treatment, called?selective laser trabeculoplasty?(SLT), to prevent vision loss in individuals at high risk of?glaucoma.

Chief investigator,?Professor Jamie Craig, from the College of Medicine and Public Health, has been granted over $1.7 million to explore the use of SLT as a preventive measure against glaucoma-related vision loss.

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