Samsara Vision: Patients Blinded by Macular Degeneration May Benefit From Implant Technology
Samsara Vision announced the first successful clinical cases in Europe using their smaller-incision new-generation implantable miniature telescope (SING IMT) for people living with late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The SING IMT, performed with the TSert delivery system, was successfully implanted in patients at two centers of excellence by Tim Schultz, MD in Bochum, Germany, and Suphi Taneri, MD in Münster, Germany, respectively, according to a company news release.
The SING IMT is implanted into one eye of patients living with late-stage AMD, a disease that can result in a loss of central or “straight-ahead” vision and create a blind spot that is uncorrectable by glasses, drugs, injections, or cataract surgery. This blind spot makes it difficult or impossible for patients to see faces, read, and perform everyday activities such as watching TV, preparing meals, and self-care. Studies show that approximately 67 million people in the European Union are currently affected by AMD and this number is expected to increase by 15 percent until 2050.
“We always strive to offer our patients the very best care and the most advanced treatments,” Dr. Schultz said in a company news release. “Our clinical case was successful, and we look forward to helping our patient learn to use the SING IMT and then, hear about all the things they can see and do with improved vision.”
“The SING IMT is a game-changer for the treatment of late-stage AMD, particularly because it’s so easy to implant in eligible patients. Further, we know that as our patients lose their central vision, they also lose connections to people they care about because it can be isolating to not feel confident going about your day with impaired vision. I’m confident that this technology will help people reconnect with the loved ones and activities that are important to them,” added Dr. Taneri.
The SING IMT is implanted during an outpatient procedure, typically taking about 30 minutes. The updated IMT device design, which includes foldable haptic loops, performed with the TSert delivery system also allows the physician to place the device in the patient’s eye using a smaller incision, meaning patients are expected to have a faster visual recovery. After recovering from surgery, patients work closely with low vision specialists and occupational therapists to learn how to use their new vision, often practicing with exercises designed with their specific vision goals in mind.
“We’re pleased that Dr. Tim Schulz and Dr. Suphi Taneri both report promising results from their first two SING IMT clinical cases and thank them for bringing this innovation to patients in Germany. We believe that the SING IMT is an important advance for late-stage AMD patients,” said Jerome Marzinski, Chief Commercial Officer of Medevise. “With the availability of the SING IMT in the EU, we are able to respond to a growing demand of vision restoration for late-stage AMD patients who are eager to see what they’ve been missing, which leads to a higher quality of life. We look forward to further introducing this technology to other practices in Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, and Spain.”
These initial implantations mark the first big milestone in the worldwide product launch. Samsara Vision is leveraging Medevise Consulting’s expertise, business reputation, and top-tier KOL network for reimbursement process guidance and communication services. The first target centers will be eye-care centers that focus on premium and high-quality delivery services.