Fish eyes may help find cure for blindness

New York, March 11 – Scientists have discovered a chemical in the zebra fish brain that helps reveal how it regrows its retina, a finding that can potentially cure blindness in humans. The findings showed that the levels of GABA , a neurotransmitter, best known for its role of calming nervous activity — drop when the unique self repair process kicks in.

AGTC to Present at the 29th Annual ROTH Conference on March 14, 2017

GAINESVILLE, Fla., and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 03, 2017 — Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation , a biotechnology company conducting human clinical trials of adeno-associated virus -based gene therapies for the treatment of rare diseases, today announced that Sue Washer, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 29th Annual ROTH Conference on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 8:30am PT in Dana Point, Calif. AGTC’s lead product candidates are designed to treat inherited orphan diseases of the eye, caused by mutations in single genes that significantly affect visual function and currently lack effective medical treatments.

Dry (Atrophic) Macular Degeneration Therapeutic and Drug Pipeline Review H2

PUNE, INDIA, February 17, 2017 / EINPresswire.com / — The report provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Age Related Macular Degeneration, complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action , route of administration and molecule type. The report also covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.

TRACON Pharma Announces Top-Line Results From NCI-Sponsored Phase 2…

Combination of TRC105 and Avastin did not improve the median progression free survival versus single agent Avastin in recurrent glioblastoma patients Combination was associated with a non-significant increase in overall survival SAN DIEGO, Feb. 09, 2017 — TRACON Pharmaceuticals , a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted therapeutics for cancer, wet age-related macular degeneration and fibrotic diseases, today reported top-line results from a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial of TRC105 in recurrent glioblastoma funded and conducted by the Clinical Therapy Evaluation Program of the National Cancer Institute .

Japan OKs retinal cell transplant using others’ iPS cells

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Wednesday approved transplant of retinal cells to treat patients using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from another person. According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the the application was filed in October last year by Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, the government-backed Riken institute in Kobe, Kyoto University and Osaka University.

A Closer Look at the Eye

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have developed a new imaging technique that could revolutionize how eye health and disease are assessed. The group is first to be able to make out individual cells at the back of the eye that are implicated in vision loss in diseases like glaucoma.

Apollo Endosurgery Shares Up 20% After Going Public With Reverse Merger

Austin, Texas-based Apollo focuses on less-invasive therapies for the treatment of obesity and gastrointestinal disorders. Its investors include affiliates of PTV Healthcare Capital, H.I.G. BioHealth Partners, Remeditex Ventures, Novo A/S and CPMG Inc. Apollo’s deal to merge with San Diego, Calif.-based Lpath, which develops lipidomic-based therapeutic antibodies, was first announced Sept.

Keeping your eyes healthy in 2017

It’s that time of year again and New Year resolutions are coming at you from every health corner. Here in RNIB Cymru we support people with sight loss, but our work also includes campaigns to help with preventing sight loss.

New bionic eye ops on the NHS

Five local blind patients will be among the first in the country to receive revolutionary bionic eye implants funded by the NHS. NHS England will provide funding for further testing of the Argus II, also known as the Bionic Eye, for 10 patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa , an inherited disease that causes blindness.