From FDA approval for a new dry eye disease treatment to the potential benefits of a low-cost HIV drug for diabetic macular edema, these are the news stories and studies that caught our attention this week…
Acoltremon OK for Alcon. Alcon has received FDA approval for its first-in-class TRPM8 receptor agonist, TRYPTYR® (acoltremon ophthalmic solution) 0.003%. TRYPTYR, a prescription treatment for Dry Eye Disease (DED), is the first eye drop that can rapidly increase natural tear production, and the company expects to launch TRYPTYR across the US in late 2025. Link
China approval for Eylea 8 mg. The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), part of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), has approved Eylea 8 mg (aflibercept 8 mg) for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Eylea 8 mg is now approved in over 50 markets worldwide and is the only anti-VEGF therapy authorized for up to 5-month dosing intervals in both nAMD and diabetic macular edema. A regulatory submission is also underway to extend dosing intervals to 6 months in the EU. Link
HIV drug for DME. A new clinical trial has indicated that lamivudine, a low-cost oral HIV drug, may also significantly improve vision in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Participants who took lamivudine as an addition to intravitreous bevacizumab saw nearly 17-letter improvements on vision charts after receiving injections, compared to just 5-letter improvements in those who received standard therapy alone. Remarkably, those on lamivudine began showing improvements even before their first injection of bevacizumab. The researchers, based at the UVA Health Center for Advanced Vision Science, are now planning larger studies, as well as testing a safer version of the drug known as K9, potentially expanding treatment options for millions with diabetes-related vision loss. Link
Eye-tracking for early glaucoma. A Journal of Eye Movement Research study has explored a novel, non-invasive approach for early detection of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) by using eye-tracking technology. Analyzing the saccadic eye movements of 48 participants, the Istanbul University-based researchers found that glaucoma patients exhibited longer saccadic latencies and reduced accuracy, especially during tasks involving moving targets. The study concludes that eye movement analysis, particularly with challenging dynamic tasks, could become a valuable complementary tool for detecting early glaucomatous changes before they are evident with standard tests. Link
