Ophthalmology

MEDIA RELEASE: The Ford government is starving local public hospitals to privatize them, charge health advocates

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

The public has funded local hospitals for more than 70 years to build operating room capacity that is unused while the Ford government is shunting unprecedented public money to private for-profit clinics and hospitals to build new operating rooms, the Coalition reports.

Key Points: 
  • The public has funded local hospitals for more than 70 years to build operating room capacity that is unused while the Ford government is shunting unprecedented public money to private for-profit clinics and hospitals to build new operating rooms, the Coalition reports.
  • For the last year, the Coalition researched the unused capacity in local public hospitals through Freedom of Information requests and interviews with surgical staff.
  • Funded private for-profit hospitals at double the rate per surgery than it funds public hospitals.
  • “A few for-profit corporations are being enriched by the Ford government’s privatization scheme while our public hospitals and patients pay the price.

Paratus Sciences Appoints Theresa Heah, M.D., M.B.A. as Chief Executive Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Heah assume the helm at Paratus,” said Amir Nashat, Executive Partner of Polaris Partners, chair of Paratus’s Board of Directors and the company’s founding CEO.

Key Points: 
  • “We are thrilled to have Dr. Heah assume the helm at Paratus,” said Amir Nashat, Executive Partner of Polaris Partners, chair of Paratus’s Board of Directors and the company’s founding CEO.
  • “Theresa brings a tremendous wealth of experience as a seasoned pharma and biotech executive, having spearheaded the development and commercialization of multiple innovative therapies.
  • She most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Intergalactic Therapeutics, a non-viral gene therapy platform company.
  • Under Amir’s leadership, Paratus has made important progress advancing this premise into a state-of-the-art R&D engine.

Opthea Appoints Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, as Chief Medical Advisor

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 19, 2024

MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opthea Limited (ASX:OPT; NASDAQ:OPT, “Opthea”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to treat highly prevalent and progressive retinal diseases, today announced the appointment of Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, as Chief Medical Advisor.

Key Points: 
  • MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opthea Limited (ASX:OPT; NASDAQ:OPT, “Opthea”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to treat highly prevalent and progressive retinal diseases, today announced the appointment of Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, as Chief Medical Advisor.
  • “We are delighted to have Dr. Khanani join Opthea as Chief Medical Advisor,” said Frederic Guerard, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer for Opthea.
  • “Dr.
  • Khanani’s extensive experience and informed perspective, from his work as the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials for retinal diseases, will be invaluable to Opthea.

Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc. Announces Name Change to Nordic Pharma, Inc. Under New Nordic Group, B.V. Ownership

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 4, 2024

Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Amring”) announces its name change to Nordic Pharma, Inc. on March 4, 2024, following the change in ownership of the company from SEVER Life Sciences, B.V. to Nordic Group, B.V., a subsidiary of SEVER Life Sciences B.V., which occurred on June 1, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Amring”) announces its name change to Nordic Pharma, Inc. on March 4, 2024, following the change in ownership of the company from SEVER Life Sciences, B.V. to Nordic Group, B.V., a subsidiary of SEVER Life Sciences B.V., which occurred on June 1, 2023.
  • The change in the corporate name provides for better alignment strategically with the parent company headquartered in the Netherlands and its subsidiaries worldwide.
  • Nordic Pharma will be launching LACRIFILL in the U.S. in Q2 2024 followed by a global rollout.
  • Charlotte Phelps, CEO of Nordic Pharma said, “The strategic acquisition and merger of the US business unit is a cornerstone of Nordic Pharma's global expansion.

NVISION Eye Centers' Subsidiary, NVISION Clinical Research, Rapidly Expands Under New Leadership

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 4, 2024

NVISION Eye Centers, a renowned national leader in comprehensive eye care services, proudly announces the remarkable expansion of its subsidiary, NVISION Clinical Research, LLC.

Key Points: 
  • NVISION Eye Centers, a renowned national leader in comprehensive eye care services, proudly announces the remarkable expansion of its subsidiary, NVISION Clinical Research, LLC.
  • NVISION Clinical Research, LLC, an integral member of the NVISION family, is exclusively dedicated to facilitating clinical trial opportunities to patients treated by NVISION ophthalmologists.
  • With more than 40 physician investigators across 20 clinical trial sites, NVISION Clinical Research, LLC operates one of the largest ophthalmology-specialized clinical trial site networks nationwide.
  • As a seasoned executive in the clinical research arena, Dr. Gibertini is ideally positioned to steer NVISION Clinical Research, LLC through its next phase of growth.

AnHeart Therapeutics and Innovent Announce China’s NMPA has Accepted Second New Drug Application for Taletrectinib for First-Line Treatment of ROS1-Positive Lung Cancer

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

This NDA is for taletrectinib as a first-line treatment for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously been treated with ROS1 TKIs.

Key Points: 
  • This NDA is for taletrectinib as a first-line treatment for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously been treated with ROS1 TKIs.
  • In 2023, China’s NMPA accepted taletrectinib’s first NDA and granted Priority Review Designation for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive NSCLC who have been previously treated with ROS1 TKIs.
  • Both NDAs in China are based on positive results from the Phase 2 TRUST-I (NCT04395677) trial.
  • “I am pleased this second NDA for taletrectinib has been accepted in China.

SDC Optimizes Focus on Tech-Enabled Biometric Services

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Statistics & Data Corporation (SDC), a global leader in life sciences biometrics services and technology solutions, announces a strategic decision to enhance focus and efficiency by transitioning its ophthalmic biometric division to its partner Ora, Inc.

Key Points: 
  • Statistics & Data Corporation (SDC), a global leader in life sciences biometrics services and technology solutions, announces a strategic decision to enhance focus and efficiency by transitioning its ophthalmic biometric division to its partner Ora, Inc.
  • During this time, SDC has developed a reputation as an industry leader in providing biometrics services and the deployment of innovative/integrated technologies across the industry.
  • Dr. Richard Abelson, CEO of SDC commented, "The transition of our ophthalmic biometric division signifies our unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation in clinical research services and technology solutions.
  • This strategic shift allows SDC to better leverage our core strengths and deliver greater value to our clients and clinical partnerships."

Stephen Carrier joins Health Network One as Network President

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 1, 2024

Health Network One, a leader in value-based healthcare solutions, recently welcomed Stephen (Steve) Carrier as Network President.

Key Points: 
  • Health Network One, a leader in value-based healthcare solutions, recently welcomed Stephen (Steve) Carrier as Network President.
  • Health Network One creates value for managed care organizations by taking on the unique complexities of specialty networks.
  • Luis Mosquera, CEO of Health Network One, expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointment, “We are thrilled to welcome Steve to our team as Network President.
  • Steve brings a wealth of experience in managed care and a proven track record of innovative leadership in value-based healthcare solutions.”
    Carrier is a seasoned managed care strategist, who joins Health Network One from Dispatch Health.

Celanese Announces Commercial Launch of Glaukos' iDose® TR (Travoprost Intracameral Implant) Using Celanese's VitalDose® Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

Sustained delivery of therapeutics provides an important approach in addressing non-compliance and improving treatment outcomes.

Key Points: 
  • Sustained delivery of therapeutics provides an important approach in addressing non-compliance and improving treatment outcomes.
  • With iDose® TR and the VitalDose® EVA, there is now the opportunity to provide continuous dosing which can improve patient compliance and address adherence issues.
  • iDose® TR was approved on the basis of two pivotal trials (1,150 subjects randomized across both trials), which demonstrated safety and efficacy.
  • Glaukos used the VitalDose® EVA to create a nanoporous membrane for travoprost delivery in iDose® TR.

Nordic Group B.V. Through Its Subsidiary Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Appoints Ophthalmology Innovator, Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD as Medical Advisory Board Chair

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 26, 2024

Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Amring), a subsidiary of Nordic Group B.V. (Nordic Pharma), announced today that preeminent ophthalmologist Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD will Chair its U.S. Medical Advisory Board (MAB) which includes Richard Lindstrom, MD (Minnesota), Vance Thompson, MD (South Dakota), Preeya Gupta, MD (North Carolina), Paul Karpecki, OD (Kentucky), Lisa Nijm, MD, JD (Illinois), and Selina McGee, OD (Oklahoma).

Key Points: 
  • Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Amring), a subsidiary of Nordic Group B.V. (Nordic Pharma), announced today that preeminent ophthalmologist Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD will Chair its U.S. Medical Advisory Board (MAB) which includes Richard Lindstrom, MD (Minnesota), Vance Thompson, MD (South Dakota), Preeya Gupta, MD (North Carolina), Paul Karpecki, OD (Kentucky), Lisa Nijm, MD, JD (Illinois), and Selina McGee, OD (Oklahoma).
  • Dr. Donnenfeld joins the MAB as Nordic Pharma prepares to launch a novel therapy for Dry Eye Disease, LACRIFILL® canalicular gel.
  • The FDA-cleared hyaluronic acid derivative LACRIFILL is intended to temporarily block tear drainage by the occlusion of the canalicular system.
  • “Nordic Pharma continues to build a world class group of key opinion leaders with Eric agreeing to lead our esteemed MAB in the U.S. as we prepare to bring LACRIFILL to market.