Next Target: Dry AMD

HOT TOPIC

Théa Open Innovation and Galimedix Therapeutics announced last week that they are teaming up on a licensing agreement in which Galimedix will grant Théa exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of GAL-101. GAL-101 is Galimedix's lead disease-modifying compound for the topical and oral treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and other ophthalmic indications with high unmet need, in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.

"Through the partnership with Galimedix, Théa will be among the few companies globally that are working on an innovative drug for the treatment of dry AMD patients who are currently at risk of going blind," said Jean-Frédéric Chibret, president of Théa Group, in a company news release.

My Two Cents

Wow! A potential treatment for dry AMD—and an oral possibility at that! GAL-101 is Galimedix's most advanced compound, ready to enter phase 2/3 trials. It is delivered topically as an eye drop and is designed to provide a convenient and safe treatment for two of the biggest scourges of the human eye: dry AMD and glaucoma. Clinically, GAL-101 is designed to target beta-amyloid aggregates, the underlying cause of neurodegenerative diseases of the eye and the central nervous system. Based on positive results in animal trials, Galimedix also plans to develop GAL-101 as an oral formulation to offer another convenient treatment alternative to patients. I will be following along closely!

CAN YOU RELATE

The number of times I've been asked about "blinding over-the-counter drops" these past 2 weeks has been overwhelming. Our patients are unsure of what's safe in the artificial tear world and need guidance. I've had about 10 patients tell me that they have discontinued using all of their drops until they’ve had a chance to talk with me.

In my opinion, now is the perfect time to start carrying products in your office that you know work safely and effectively. Patients trust us as their eye care practitioners and want our assurance on which drops are safe and reliable. Some of my personal favorites are Freshkote Preservative Free eye drops (Eyevance Pharmaceuticals) and the Optase product line (Scope).

Offering a simple thing such as lubricant drops in your practice can not only help your bottom line, but also give your patients peace of mind. If you’re not sure where to get started as far as carrying or recommending products, check out one of my favorite services, dryeyerescue.com.

OUTSIDE THE LANE

The Benefits of STEM Education

Some time ago, a 9-year-old girl from India named Hana Rafeeq became the youngest person to create an artificial intelligence (AI)-based iPhone app, earning her both worldwide acclaim and kudos from Apple CEO Tim Cook. Now, Hana’s 11-year-old sister Leena is in the spotlight for developing an AI-based app that detects certain eye diseases and conditions.

The self-taught, Dubai-based coder developed the app, called Ogler Eyescan, when she was 10 years old. She recently posted about it on LinkedIn, writing, "Ogler is capable of detecting various eye diseases and conditions through a unique scanning process with your iPhone. Using advanced computer vision, and machine learning algorithms, Ogler can analyze various parameters such as light and color intensity, distance, and look-up points to locate the eyes within the frame range. It also identifies any light burst issues and if the eyes are positioned exactly inside the scanner frame." Leena explains in her post that once the scan quality is assured, the app utilizes trained models to diagnose potential eye diseases or conditions such as arcus, melanoma, pterygium, and cataract.

Although the app itself isn’t that earth-shattering, I believe it shows us yet again the bright future that technology will afford our profession. If a self-taught 11-year-old can create an app this impressive, it's exciting to think of all the amazing things that will come to fruition in the years to come.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.”

—Hippocrates