StemCell Therapy

WALTHAM, Mass., March 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Affinia Therapeutics, an innovative gene therapy company with a platform for rationally designed adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors and gene therapies and a mission to develop transformative medicines for devastating diseases, today announced it has closed an oversubscribed $60 million Series A financing. Seed venture investors F-Prime Capital and New Enterprise Associates (NEA) co-led the round alongside new investor Atlas Venture, with participation from seed investors Alexandria Venture Investments, Lonza and Partners Innovation Fund.

The proceeds will be used to advance the companys platform and develop transformative gene therapies for people affected by muscle and central nervous system (CNS) diseases with significant unmet need.

The company is led by recently appointed Chief Executive Officer Rick Modi, who has a proven track record of building value at companies including AveXis, InterMune, MedImmune and Centocor. Joining the board of directors as part of the financing are Dave Grayzel, M.D., Partner, Atlas Venture; Ed Mathers, General Partner, NEA; and Robert Weisskoff, Ph.D., Partner, F-Prime Capital. Industry veteran and gene therapy leader Sean Nolan will chair the board.

At Affinia Therapeutics, were setting a new standard in gene therapies by leveraging our proprietary platform to methodically engineer novel AAV vectors and gene therapies that have remarkable targeting properties, said Modi, CEO of Affinia. We are pleased to partner with such a distinguished syndicate to advance our platform and investigational product candidates toward the clinic for patients in need.

The companys technology was licensed from Lonza and Massachusetts Eye and Ear. It was developed at the Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center and further advanced under a sponsored research agreement with Lonza led by Luk Vandenberghe, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Mass. Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School and a co-inventor of AAV9.

In addition to Vandenberghe, joining Affinia Therapeutics as scientific co-founders are Botond Roska, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel; Aaron Tward, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of California, San Francisco; and Eric Zinn, Ph.D. student, Mass. Eye and Ear and Harvard University. Together, these scientists have authored more than 200 papers and filed more than 20 patents in the field of gene therapy.

Affinia Therapeutics is bringing together complementary expertise allowing us to realize a rational design future for AAV vectors, promoters and other components of gene therapies. By leveraging synthetic and systems biology combined with high-throughput screening and tissue and single-cell resolution, we are aspiring to achieve much-needed improved pharmacological control of this novel modality in medicine, said Vandenberghe, Director, Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center at Mass. Eye and Ear.

The Series A financing comes after Vandenberghe and his team successfully developed AAVSmartLibraries comprising thousands of functional novel AAV vectors. Each vector is uniquely identified, and the libraries can be screened across species for parameters of high interest, including tissue tropism, manufacturing yield and pre-existing immunity. Observations arising from each library screen provide insights into the vectors structure-function, enabling the rational design of novel vectors and gene therapies with remarkably improved properties. Affinia Therapeutics has potentially the worlds largest library of patented functional AAV vectors.

Affinia Therapeutics methodical process for designing and evaluating vectors is a differentiated approach to gene therapy, and the highly experienced leadership team will help carry these discoveries to the development, manufacturing and commercialization of transformative medicines, said Mathers, General Partner at NEA. We are pleased to accelerate the impact of this exciting field.

About Affinia Therapeutics

At Affinia Therapeutics, our purpose is to develop gene therapies that can have a transformative impact on people affected by devastating genetic diseases. Our proprietary platform enables us to methodically engineer novel AAV vectors and gene therapies that have remarkable tissue targeting and other properties. We are building world-class capabilities to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize gene therapy products with an initial focus on muscle and central nervous system (CNS) diseases with significant unmet need.www.affiniatx.com.

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Affinia Therapeutics Raises $60M in Series A Financing to Advance Rational Design AAV Platform and Transformative Gene Therapies - GlobeNewswire

Three years after a brain cancer failure sent the company reeling, VBL Therapeutics is touting its first hint of positive Phase III results.

The Israeli biotech announced its lead drug, VB111, met an interim efficacy benchmark in a trial testing it against standard-of-care alone in recurrent, chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer. The patients in the treatment arm had a CA-125 response rate a measure of cancer antigen often used as a proxy in ovarian cancer studies and in detecting ovarian cancer at least 10% higher than those in the control, the independent review determined.

The response rate in the first 60 enrolled and evaluable patients was 53%. That indicated a treatment response rate of at least 58% an encouraging number, the company said, because of the CA-125 data from their earlier Phase II trial.

We are very pleased by the outcome of this interim analysis, which demonstrates the potential benefit of VB-111 over standard-of-care in a randomized-controlled study, VBL CEO Dror Harats said. The OVAL Phase 3 interim data are at least as good as the CA-125 response results observed in our VB-111 Phase 2 study.

In that earlier study, which indicated a dose-dependent response, patients who showed a CA-125 response ultimately had an overall survival rate of808 days, versus 351 days for those who did not. The primary endpoint for this study, which is set to be completed in 2022, is overall survival.

The data come two years after VBL announced the combo of VB-111 and Avastin had failed to beat out Avastin alone in a Phase III study of glioblastoma, a notoriously hard-to-treat indication. It was their first Phase III trial after a smattering of Phase II trials in different solid tumors had turned up mixed results.

VB-111 is what the company deems a gene therapy agent. It uses an adenovirus the viral vector traditionally used for gene therapy that carries a gene to cause explosive cell death in tumors, rupturing blood cells. They have anti-inflammatory and other cancer programs in development.

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VBL and its 'gene therapy' cancer treatment are back with a peek at PhIII potential - Endpoints News

FILE PHOTO: The company's logo is seen at a building of Swiss drugmaker Novartis in Rotkreuz, Switzerland, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis on Friday won a key European recommendation for its gene therapy Zolgensma against spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), clearing a hurdle for $2.1 million per patient treatment for approval in Europe within months.

The European Medicines Agencys (EMA) Committee for Human Medicines (CHMP) recommended conditional approval for Zolgensma for certain patients: those with Type 1 SMA, the severest form of the disease, or for SMA patients with up to three copies of the so-called SMN2 gene, an indicator of the diseases severity.

The EMAs conditional approval is meant to speed up access to medicines for unmet needs, based on less-complete data than normally expected.

Typically the European Commission approves medicines for use shortly after a CHMP recommendation, and Novartis is expecting a decision by June. The medicine, the worlds costliest one-time treatment at its U.S. list price, has already been approved in the United States and Japan.

Novartis is counting on the gene therapy becoming a billion-dollar-per-year seller. Zolgensma is the second treatment for SMA to be approved after Biogens Spinraza three years ago. Roche is expecting its oral drug risdiplam to win U.S. regulators blessing in May.

Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Michael Shields

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Novartis wins key European recommendation for gene therapy Zolgensma - Reuters

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to PR006 (Prevail Therapeutics), an experimental gene therapy, to slow the progression of frontotemporal dementia with a GRN mutation (FTD-GRN).

FTD-GRN is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the GRN gene. Patients with a GRN mutation have reduced levels of progranulin, a protein critical for lysosomal function, neuronal survival, and normal microglial activities. PR006 delivers a healthy GRN gene using an AAV9 vector to increase progranulin levels in these patients.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently accepted the Investigational New Drug application for PR006, allowing the Company to proceed with a phase 1/2 trial.

FTD-GRN progresses rapidly and there are currently no therapeutic options available, said Asa Abeliovich, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Prevail. We believe PR006 has the potential to fill this unmet medical need and make a significant impact for patients.

The FDA previously granted Orphan Drug designation to PR006 for the treatment of patients with frontotemporal dementia.

For more information visit prevailtherapeutics.com.

This article originally appeared on MPR

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Gene Therapy for Frontotemporal Dementia With a GRN Mutation Gets Fast Track Status - Neurology Advisor

After coming under heavy fire from consumer groups ready to pummel them for grabbing the FDAs orphan status for remdesivir reserved to encourage the development of rare disease therapies Gilead CEO Daniel ODay had some explaining to do about the companys approach to providing access to this drug to patients suffering from Covid-19. And he set aside time over the weekend to patiently explain how they are making their potential pandemic drug available in a new program one he feels can better be used to address a growing pack of infected patients desperately seeking remdesivir under compassionate use provisions.

In addition to trying to reassure patients that they will once again have an avenue to pursue access, ODay also reassured some analysts who had been fretting that Chinas quick comeback from the coronavirus outbreak could derail its ultra-fast schedule for testing the drug in patients. The data are still expected in a few weeks, he says in the letter, putting the readout in April.

ODay emphasizes that Gilead intends to pursue a pricing approach that will make this drug widely available if it proves effective and safe. But no one is quite sure just what the longterm value would be, given the work being done on a variety of vaccines that may be rolled out as early as this fall at least to the most heavily threatened groups.

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David Hallal bags another whopper round, looking to recruit more cell and gene therapy upstarts to ElevateBio BaseCamp - Endpoints News

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A programme investigating the potential of gene therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in horses, dogs and cats, has begun at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), led by Skeletal Regeneration expert, Dr Scott Roberts.

Dr Scott Roberts, who joined the RVC as Senior Lecturer in Translational Skeletal Research in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, has recently initiated the programme of investigative research.

The research is inspired by Dr Roberts interest in skeletal stem cell signalling and the effect of signal modulation on skeletal tissue regeneration. He initiated this work during his time at KU Leuven (Belgium) but has subsequently researched this topic as Principal Investigator at University College London and as Senior Principal Scientist at UCB Pharma. During his time at UCB, Dr Roberts identified musculoskeletal drug targets and led the subsequent drug discovery projects. His research has resulted in several patent applications on the use of cells and therapeutic antibodies to promote the regeneration of bone and cartilage.

The new gene therapy research programme in osteoarthritis will be undertaken in partnership with the LEP funded Vaccinology and Cell Therapy Hub at the RVC. This will not only provide an environment for further research on regenerative medicine but also the facilities to create reagents for clinical translation.

The Hub with its close connections to both scientists and veterinary clinicians is also well-placed to take the science from bench-to-bedside and facilitate clinical trials in veterinary patients. This will include horses at the Equine Referral Hospital, and dogs and cats at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals at the RVC.

It is proposed that this treatment would transition into human clinical studies, exemplifying the RVCs commitment to the One Health approach which recognises and facilitates the synergy between animal and human health.

Dr Scott Roberts said:

This research has the potential to change the way that we approach degenerative joint disease and I am delighted to have access to the Vaccinology and Cell Therapy Hub while we undertake this work. We hope that this science will lead to a ground-breaking treatment for osteoarthritis in animals, and eventually humans. We are optimistic about the future of this research, particularly given its contribution to the RVCs One Health ethos. I look forward to taking advantage of the RVCs world-leading facilities, as well as the scientists and clinicians who will help us take this research forward.

Professor Jonathan Elliott, Vice Principal of Research and Innovation at the RVC, said:

We are delighted that Scott Roberts has joined the RVC and will pursue his translational research into novel therapies that stimulate repair of cartilage for osteoarthritis in horses, dogs and people. This appointment builds on the RVCs expertise in Skeletal Biology. Scotts links to the Pharma Industry are very important for his translational science to have impact. His work fits perfectly with the goals of our soon to open Vaccinology and Cell Therapy Hub, made possible by the funding from the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The research Dr Roberts is undertaking is critical as cartilage has a very poor capacity to repair itself, with cartilage injuries often progressing to osteoarthritis. There is also currently no approved evidence-driven therapy for the treatment of this disease.

In addition to osteoarthritis, Dr Roberts research aims to create regenerative therapeutics for non-healing bone fractures. This is based on a comprehensive understanding of tissue development, as tissue repair is now regarded as a re-emergence of embryonic signalling cascades. Dr Roberts has used knowledge in this area to identify developmentally inspired methodologies to create laboratory grown tissue implants that have the capacity to drive bone fracture repair.

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Investigation Begins into Gene Therapy for Osteoarthritis - Everything Horse UK

Our first priority during this unprecedented time is the health of our employees, our patients and their communities, and the employees of our clinical sites, partners and vendors. In accordance with advice from health authorities, AVROBIO has moved quickly to virtual operations, except for essential laboratory work, which continues with additional COVID-19-related safety measures in place, said Geoff MacKay, AVROBIOs president and CEO. We continue to support patient identification efforts across our clinical trials in Canada, Australia and the United States. As the global healthcare community responds to the increase in COVID-19 cases, many hospitals, including our clinical sites, have temporarily paused elective medical procedures, which includes dosing of new patients in clinical trials of our investigative gene therapies. While were fully committed to moving our clinical programs forward, AVROBIO supports this temporary reallocation of resources to ensure hospitals can focus on meeting the needs of patients with COVID-19. We are closely monitoring this rapidly evolving situation and the potential impact on our clinical trial programs and business generally.

Program Updates AVR-RD-01 clinical trials in Fabry disease AVROBIO is conducting two clinical trials for its investigational gene therapy for Fabry disease (AVR-RD-01). Four patients have been dosed in the global Phase 2 trial (FAB-201), which is evaluating treatment-nave patients, and five patients in the fully enrolled Phase 1 (FACTs) investigator-led clinical trial of AVR-RD-01.

AVR-RD-04 Phase 1/2 clinical trial in cystinosis AVROBIOs investigational gene therapy for cystinosis (AVR-RD-04) is being studied in a Phase 1/2 investigational trial in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The first patient was dosed in October 2019. The single-arm trial is expected to enroll up to six patients.

AVR-RD-02 Phase 1/2 clinical trial in Gaucher disease AVROBIO's investigational gene therapy for Gaucher disease (AVR-RD-02) is being studied in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy in individuals with Gaucher disease type 1. The global trial is designed to enroll eight to 16 individuals with Gaucher disease type 1 including both those who are treatment-nave and those who are stable on enzyme replacement therapy.

Business Operations On March 10, AVROBIO created an internal, cross-functional COVID-19 Response Team to closely monitor the evolving situation and advise on the companys response. We have implemented a work-from-home policy for all employees excluding those providing essential services, such as our laboratory staff. For those employees, AVROBIO has implemented safety measures designed to comply with applicable federal, state and local guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We may be required to take additional actions that impact our operations as required by applicable laws or regulations, or which we determine to be in the best interests of our employees. AVROBIO continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and will provide a further update in conjunction with its first quarter financial results announcement and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in May 2020. At this time, all preclinical programs and research activities remain on track, and we do not anticipate any material impact on our regulatory activities.

Financial Position In February 2020, the company raised gross proceeds of $100 million through a follow-on common stock offering. Based on the companys current operating plan, AVROBIO expects its cash and cash equivalents of $187.0 million as of Dec. 31, 2019, together with the net proceeds from the February 2020 follow-on common stock offering, will enable the company to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into Q2 2022.

About AVROBIO Our mission is to free people from a lifetime of genetic disease with a single dose of gene therapy. We aim to halt or reverse disease throughout the body by driving durable expression of functional protein, even in hard-to-reach tissues and organs including the brain, muscle and bone. Our clinical-stage programs include Fabry disease, Gaucher disease and cystinosis and we also are advancing a program in Pompe disease. AVROBIO is powered by the plato gene therapy platform, our foundation designed to scale gene therapy worldwide. We are headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with an office in Toronto, Ontario. For additional information, visit avrobio.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words and phrases such as aims, anticipates, believes, could, designed to, estimates, expects, forecasts, goal, intends, may, plans, possible, potential, seeks, will, and variations of these words and phrases or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our business strategy for and the potential therapeutic benefits of our prospective product candidates, the design, commencement, enrollment and timing of ongoing or planned clinical trials, clinical trial results, product approvals and regulatory pathways, anticipated benefits of our gene therapy platform including potential impact on our commercialization activities, timing and likelihood of success, the expected benefits and results of our implementation of the plato platform in our clinical trials and gene therapy programs, the expected safety profile of our investigational gene therapies, the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our clinical trial programs and business generally, as well as our plans and expectations with respect to the timing and resumption of any development activities that may be temporarily paused as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and statements regarding our financial and cash position and expected cash runway. Any such statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Results in preclinical or early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data presented.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on AVROBIOs current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry as well as managements current beliefs and expectations of future events only as of today and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that any one or more of AVROBIOs product candidates will not be successfully developed or commercialized, the risk of cessation or delay of any ongoing or planned clinical trials of AVROBIO or our collaborators, the risk that AVROBIO may not successfully recruit or enroll a sufficient number of patients for our clinical trials, the risk that AVROBIO may not realize the intended benefits of our gene therapy platform, including the features of our plato platform, the risk that our product candidates or procedures in connection with the administration thereof will not have the safety or efficacy profile that we anticipate, the risk that prior results, such as signals of safety, activity or durability of effect, observed from preclinical or clinical trials, will not be replicated or will not continue in ongoing or future studies or trials involving AVROBIOs product candidates, the risk that we will be unable to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates, the risk that the size and growth potential of the market for our product candidates will not materialize as expected, risks associated with our dependence on third-party suppliers and manufacturers, risks regarding the accuracy of our estimates of expenses and future revenue, risks relating to our capital requirements and needs for additional financing, risks relating to clinical trial and business interruptions resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak or similar public health crises, including that such interruptions may materially delay our development timeline and/or increase our development costs or that data collection efforts may be impaired or otherwise impacted by such crises, and risks relating to our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause AVROBIOs actual results to differ materially and adversely from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled Risk Factors in AVROBIOs most recent Annual or Quarterly Report, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in AVROBIOs subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AVROBIO explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.

Cautionary Note on Future Updates The statements contained in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events, which may change significantly as the global consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly develop. Accordingly, we do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

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AVROBIO Outlines Response to COVID-19 and Current Assessment of Business Impact - BioSpace

TOKYO & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Modalis Therapeutics Corporation (Modalis) today announced that the company has entered into a license agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc., under which Modalis has obtained a license to certain intellectual property that is controlled by Editas Medicine. Modalis is utilizing its proprietary epigenetic gene modulation technology, CRISPR-GNDM (Guide Nucleotide Directed Modulation), to treat patients with serious genetic disorders. Additional details including financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Our goal is to create CRISPR based gene therapies for genetic disorders, most of which fall into the orphan disease category. There should be no disease that is ignored because of its small patient population, and our mission to develop disease modifying treatments for these diseases reflects our belief that Every Life Deserves Attention. We are proud to be the pioneer in CRISPR based gene modulation therapy, said Haru Morita, Chief Executive Officer of Modalis.

We are pleased to establish this license agreement with Modalis Therapeutics as their mission is aligned with our mission to make transformative medicines for people living with serious diseases of unmet clinical need. CRISPR technology has many uses and applications, and we are pleased to include Modalis in our expanding portfolio of licensees so the greatest number of patients may benefit in the future from transformative medicines, said Cynthia Collins, president and chief executive officer, Editas Medicine.

About Modalis

Modalis Therapeutics is developing precision genetic medicines through epigenetic gene modulation. Founded by Osamu Nureki and leading scientists in CRISPR gene editing from University of Tokyo, Modalis is pursuing therapies for orphan genetic diseases using its proprietary CRISPR-GNDM technology which enables the locus specific modulation of gene expression or histone modification without the need for double-stranded DNA cleavage, gene editing or base editing. Modalis is focusing initially on genetic disorders caused by loss of gene regulation resulting in excess or insufficient protein production which includes more than 660 genes that are currently estimated to cause human disease due to haploinsufficiency. Headquartered in Tokyo with laboratories and facilities in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company is backed by leading Japanese investors including Fast Track Initiative, SBI Investment, UTokyo-IPC, SMBC Venture Capital, and Mizuho Capital. For additional information, visit http://www.modalistx.com.

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Modalis Obtains Access to Foundational CRISPR IP - BioSpace

Vision and Eye Health Assurance and Protection in the Workplace

Vision and eye health go beyond the regular checkup dont skimp on appropriate vision PPE.

Eye injuries, suboptimal vision and eye health in the workplace are very common. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that every day about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment.1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 61 million adults in the United States as being classified at high risk for serious vision loss, and that only half visited an eye doctor in the past 12 months.2

Most individuals surveyed by the CDC indicate no reason to go as the most common reason for not obtaining recommended regular vision and eye health care.3 Suboptimal eye and vision health in the workplace can lead to poor performance and increased potential for injury. Even minor eye injuries can cause life-long vision problems and suffering. A simple scratch can cause corneal erosion that is recurrently painful.4

Safety experts and doctors of optometry believe the right combination of eye protection and yearly comprehensive eye examination can reduce the severity of workplace injuries and prevent 90 percent of eye injuries.

Epidemiology of Work-Related Injuries

In 2008, injuries to the eyes accounted for 37 percent of all head injuries involving days away from work and 62 percent of all face injuries involving days away from work. Men experienced four times as many eye injuries as women, and men aged 25 to 44 suffered more eye injuries than men in other age groups. Workers who were most at risk of incurring an eye injury included those in the manufacturing, construction, and wholesale and retail trade industries, and educational and health services.5

In 2008, there were 27,450 nonfatal occupational injuries or illnesses involving at least one eye that resulted in days away from work. The typical eye injury resulted from the eye being rubbed or abraded by foreign matter, such as metal chips, dirt particles, and splinters, or by these types of items striking the eye. These injury events resulted commonly in abrasions, scratches, and embedded foreign bodies (splinters and chips).6

This article originally appeared in the April 1, 2020 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.

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Vision and Eye Health Assurance and Protection in the Workplace - Occupational Health and Safety

(PRESS RELEASE) Safilo Group, a worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of eyewear, kicks off a new virtual education platform this week, offering a series of educational webinars for its customers on various topics to enrich their optical practices while offices are closed or operating on limited schedules due to COVID-19.

Running the full weeks of March 23 and March 30, one new course topic will be taught daily between two and four times each day with four sessions daily this week and repeated two times daily next week to accommodate participants in different time zones. The lectures are led by Robin Brush, a Safilo Key Accounts Manager and an ABOC-certified optician with 25 years of optical industry experience. The courses, taught live, are being offered in English and will soon be translated to other languages in the coming weeks to make available to international customers. The courses are also being recorded to make available later for those who missed them. ABO credits are not being issued for any of the online lectures.

To attend these virtual classes, North American customers can either contact their sales representatives or sign up directly by visiting the home pages of Safilos b2b websites: http://www.mysafilo.com (USA) or http://www.mysafilocanada.com (Canada). Internationally, Safilo customers can contact their sales rep for sign-up details. The WebEx course topics include: Advanced Eyewear Technology; A Visual Guide to Merchandising, J.O.B.S. Program: Joint Opportunity to Believe in Staying; Multiples Mindset and Optical 411 (full course descriptions can be found on the next page).

To promote the courses, a customer eblast was sent out last Friday to Safilo North America customers which contained the WebEx links needed for course sign-up. Members of Safilos North American sales force are also informing customers directly. The courses are additionally being promoted daily on Safilo Groups global Facebook page.

During these trying times, we wanted to continue showing our gratitude and support to our customers practices by offering courses to enrich their education portfolio. Weve worked diligently to create a free virtual education platform that will allow anyone within one of our customers practices to access the courses, even if their offices are closed temporarily, said Steve Wright, Safilo North Americas president and chief commercial officer. The classes were developed initially, with Safilo North America customers in mind, while many are at home this week and practicing social distancing. However, we decided to make the courses available internationally as believe this program can be beneficial to all Safilo customers around the globe, added Wright.

Course descriptions:

1. Advanced Eyewear Technology:Learn the anatomy and proper names for eyewear. Details and fitting examples of why different nose pads, bridges, temples and frame fronts are used to make eyewear. Learn about the different materials that eyewear is made from and why different materials are used and benefits to the patients.

2. A Visual Guide to Merchandising:Define visual merchandising as related to optical; learn how to apply visual merchandising to your optical for brand story telling; learn how the Pantone color of the year influences our world of retail and understanding merchandising secrets and customer behaviors.

3. J.O.B.S. Program: Joint Opportunity to Believe in Staying:In this course, you will learn how to involve the entire office staff in the process of making the sale. Each department will have defined responsibilities that educate and layer the selling process for the patient. You will also learn the art of seamless transition from patient to retail customer. Interpreting the prescription for lens and frame sales. Multiple pair sales will be your new normal and understanding and defusing sales objections will not be a problem.

4. Multiples Mindset:Selling multiple pairs is a mindset! How can you expect an optician to sell multiple pairs or sell luxury if theyve never experienced that personally? In this course, we will dive into the mindset of the optician getting to the bottom of why they dont sell multiples. Also, well be learning techniques to use as their managers to promote a multiples environment and culture.

5. Optical 411:In this course, you will understand the importance of being a good steward of the numbers in your optical. Frame return rate and frame turn ratio, why are they critical to the profitability of your business? Inventory management and how to analyze the data. Discover the two best methods for ordering frames to achieve the profitable numbers. Six easy steps to efficient sales rep appointments and tracking your orders and returns.

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Prevent Blindness Declares April as Women's Eye Health and Safety Month - InvisionMag

It has been predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic would cause business disruption. Now, it has claimed a casualty with Second Sight Medical Products Inc., of Sylmar, Calif., which has been forced to wind down operations, citing the pandemic and the impact it will have on the companys ability to secure financing. Second Sight, which makes the Argus II retinal prosthesis system, said that effective March 31, 84 of its 108 employees will be laid off.

The company expects to bring on an adviser experienced in winding down operations to guide the board on next steps. However, additional layoffs are anticipated in the future based on the companys level of operations.

When asked whether it was looking for buyers for its Argus II/Orion assets and if it could predict how long the wind down would take, the company referred BioWorld to its statement and 8-K filing.

With the wind down announcement came news that the company had named Matthew Pfeffer, chairman of the audit committee of the board, as acting CEO, effective immediately. News of the companys winding down comes roughly three weeks after it reported that Will McGuire, president and CEO, was leaving, effective March 27. He was slated to remain as a director on Second Sights board.

McGuire left to join Carlsbad, Calif.-based Ra Medical Systems Inc. as CEO and a member of the companys board, effective March 30, citing the desire to be closer to his family.

With McGuires departure, Gregg Williams, the board chair, was tapped as acting CEO. However, now the company has decided to go with Pfeffer through this process.

Orion

Before the decision to wind down, the company had high hopes for its Orion visual cortical prosthesis system. The company saw the potential for the product to provide useful artificial vision to individuals blind from many causes, such as glaucoma, eye injury, diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve disease or injury and retinitis pigmentosa.

Indeed, during the companys March 19 fourth-quarter earnings call, COO Pat Ryan provided an update on the companys Orion early feasibility study. Specifically, it had wrapped up the 12-month testing for the sixth and final subject in February. Ryan detailed some results, noting that on square localization, 83% of individuals scored significantly better with the device on than off. All individuals scored significantly better with the device on than off on direction of motion.

From a safety perspective, as previously shared, there was one serious adverse event in seven nonserious adverse events over the same time period. These results are extremely encouraging, and we believe sufficient to support moving forward with a pivotal study in the U.S., Ryan said.

The company had reached an agreement with the U.S. FDA on the primary efficacy endpoint for the pivotal trial, which will be FLORA [Functional Low Vision Observer Rated Assessment] 20. As of that date, three of 15 subjects have begun participation in the FLORA 20 validation. However, due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols, we have suspended validation efforts until further notice, he said at the time.

Kyle Bauser from Dougherty & Co. asked whether COVID-19 had had an impact on the IDE application, given that it was now slated for the first half of next year. Ryan said no, adding that the company was being conservative in light of ongoing discussions with the FDA.

Competition

For its part, a big competitor of Second Sight, Paris-based Pixium Vision SA, reported March 31 positive follow-up data from a feasibility trial of the Prima system in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Specifically, the Prima system sustainably elicited light perception in all four dry AMD patients with favorable safety profile. The company said the results build on the previously reported positive 12-month clinical data. The Prima system is intended to partially replace the normal physiological function of the eyes photoreceptor cells by electrically stimulating the nerve cells of the inner retina. Those then transmit the visual information to the brain via the optic nerve.

But COVID-19 is having an impact on this company as well. Pixium reported March 23 that it had decided to postpone continuing its feasibility studies in France and the U.S., aside from ongoing safety monitoring. It added that the initiation of the PRIMAvera pivotal study with the Prima system in dry AMD may be delayed.

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Citing COVID-19, Second Sight to wind down operations - BioWorld Online

ACCORDING to the Health Ministry, at least 80% of all blindness or limited vision cases can be prevented or treated.

A national eye survey in 2014 showed that at least 1.2% or 63,000 Malaysians have been diagnosed as blind.

To address this, the role of eye care specialists has taken on significance in fighting preventable vision impairment.

There is much more than meets the eye when it comes to the role of an eye care specialist beyond just examining your eye and prescribing lenses.

An optometrist not only helps you see clearly and detects signs of eye disease, but also assesses how well your visual system which encompasses the eyes, brain and eye muscles work.

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) states that optometrists provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection and diagnosis, management of eye disease, and rehabilitation of the visual system conditions.

The importance of eye care specialists be it an optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist is imperative and crucial to the general healthcare of patients in need of eye care.

The need for optometrists in Malaysia is worrying. At present, there are over 2,000 optometrists and the ratio of optometrist to patient stands at around 1:22,000. The WCO recommended ratio is 1:10,000.

As such, UCSI University Malaysias best private university for two years in a row according to the two recent QS World University Rankings offers the Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) programme to play its role in creating more eye care specialists.

Optometrists are naturally high-income earners with tremendous potential for growth, job security and satisfaction.

During clinical trainings, students at UCSI learn in a simulated optometric environment.

A career in optometry is virtually stress-free and not physically demanding. During clinical trainings, UCSI students learn in a simulated optometric environment, practising on each other before moving on to real patients, under the supervision of experienced lecturers.

This training provides procedural experiences in case history taking, performing eye examinations, employing diagnostic techniques and applying the necessary communication skills to discuss treatment plans and options with patients.

Not all graduate studies are scientific theories; many are very practice-oriented. Students in their final year will be able to manage a practice and work with children and the elderly with a clear knowledge of healthcare laws and policies, ethics and economics that are applicable to the field of optometry.

Asst Prof Shah says optometry is a rewarding career for those who are prepared to care for people to see clearly.

UCSI Universitys head of Optometry School Asst Prof Shah Farez Othman pointed out that optometrists, upon completion of the programme, develop specific interests to advance in other eye care areas such as contact lens practice, low vision, sports vision, childrens vision and consultancy in an industry.

Optometry is a rewarding profession for those prepared to accept the obligation of caring for peoples sight. Optometrists enjoy great satisfaction through helping their patients overcome vision problems, he said.

The four-year optometry programme at UCSI follows guidelines set by the WCO and is fully accredited by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).

The four-year optometry at UCSI follows guidelines set by the WCO and is fully accredited by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).

Graduates from this programme will enter the workforce as an optometrist registered with the Malaysian Optical Council, Health Ministry, giving them an edge to secure jobs much easier.

For more information, visit http://online.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/ or email your queries to info.sec@ucsiuniversity.edu.my

Continued here:
Through the lenses of an eye care expert - The Star Online

Executives at Second Sight, the Nasdaq-listed company that has developed a series of implants designed to restore a form of vision to blind people, have decided to wind down the companys operations with immediate effect.

The decision comes after attempts to secure additional financing were hindered by the global coronavirus pandemic. Second Sight says 84 of the companys 108 employees were laid off March 31, with additional layoffs expected in the future.

It also means that company chairman Gregg Williams, who had been appointed acting CEO of Second Sight less than a month ago, will not now take up that role. Instead Matthew Pfeffer, chairman of the Second Sight boards audit committee, will lead the company through the wind-down period.

Economic shockSaying that its laid-off employees will be eligible for unemployment benefits subject to local regulations, Second Sight added in a company release:

Against a background of unprecedented economic shock caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and inability to secure additional financing, the companys board of directors has evaluated strategic alternatives and decided to pursue an orderly wind down of the companys operations.

News of the wind down came less than two weeks after the Los Angeles firm revealed its financial results for fiscal year 2019. Those figures showed an operating loss of $34million during the year, on sales of less than $4million.

That meant Second Sight had burned through much of the $35million cash that it had raised in a shareholder rights issue just over a year ago - the vast majority of which had been provided by Gregg Williams.

As of the end of last year the company had held just over $11million in cash and equivalent assets, but with a quarterly burn rate typically in the region of $8million that pile is likely to have dwindled over the past three months.

JHU collaborationLast October the firm secured a $2.4million grant from the National Institutes of Health. It was awarded to fund a four-year collaboration with researchers at Johns Hopkins Universitys Applied Physics Laboratory, with the aim of integrating spatial localization and mapping technology with a future generation of Second Sights Orion visual implant.

By-passing both the eye and the optic nerve, the Orion implant is placed directly onto the visual cortex of the patient's brain. Signals received from a miniature camera integrated within a pair of glasses are fed to the implant and interpreted as "vision" by the brain.

Prior to Orion, Second Sight had developed the "Argus" and "Argus II" implants, which were attached to the rear of a patient's retina. To date, more than 350 patients have received an Argus II implant.

The Orion implant is currently the subject of an ongoing feasibility study with six blind patients, in collaboration with the University of California Los Angeles' Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Second Sight had been working towards a larger pivotal trial of the Orion implant, while all of the patients taking part in the small-scale study had reached the 12-month mark.

Company COO Pat Ryan had said last month: It is gratifying to know that this device can help profoundly blind individuals gain some independence and participate once again in certain activities of daily life. We look forward to making continued strides in advancing this breakthrough technology.

Since then, however, the companys stock price has lost around 80per cent of its value, amid the wider sell-off in stocks in response to the global coronavirus crisis.

Video: Second Sight study at Baylor College of Medicine

See the original post:
Second Sight to wind down on Covid-19 impact - Optics.org

Date: 31 March 2020

Alastair Lockwood, ophthalmologist and eye health specialist at Feel Good Contacts, explains what measures company car fleet managers can take to ensure the vision of their drivers is up to scratch.

Having good eyesight is a legal requirement for UK drivers, in fact more than 2,800 people have failed their practical testin the last five years alone before even getting into the car due to failing the 20m registration sight test. However, it's crucial that license holders ensure they have their eyes regularly checked to ensure they are up to standard and it's imperative that fleet managers encourage any drivers within their business to make a conscious effort to look after their eyes.

While legislation is in place to ensure drivers don't spend more than nine hours a day on the road, it's integral that regular breaks are taken throughout any long journeys to avoid tired, dry, and strained eyes. Ensure there are clear notices and guidance in place for your drivers within your place of work, and if you have a regular set of vehicles, somewhere within the car as well.

When driving, it is advised that drivers blink regularly, particularly when on long stretches of road that offer little stimulus to the individual controlling the vehicle. Drivers can also use the '20-20-20' rule when safe to do so: take a 20 second break from your line of sight to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes. This will give your eyes a chance to rest and is an effective way to reduce eye strain.

Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of oxidative stress and has been linked to the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and dry eye syndrome, all of which can have long term health implications and on road safety in the process.

Quitting smoking at any stage of life can be beneficial, reducing the risk of developing eye threatening conditions. Encouraging staff to quit smoking and pointing them in the direction of relevant schemes is an excellent way to maintain greater levels of vision both on and off the road.

Driving when tired or not 100% alert will lower response time and control over the wheel. Certain medications may also be made with a drowsy formula and significantly reduce your ability to drive safely so it's important to check this with any new employees or staff that might require a vehicle.

This may sound obvious but ensure your fleet is regularly cleaned.

Before setting off, ensure the driver checks their line of sight and that mirrors are clean of any dirt and smudges, to ensure a clear field of vision. Keep windows clean to avoid increased glare and condensation.

If your staff are regularly on the road, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can cause eye health problems. It's important to ensure that all employees wear appropriate eye protection throughout the year. Fast fashion retailers do not always produce sunglasses with the correct materials to avoid harmful UV light. You should make workers aware that glasses with appropriate UVA and UVB protection are important and polarised glasses can be a great option for this to reduce glare caused by reflections from hoods, windows and mirrors.

Even if your staff are doing all of these things to look after their eyes, it's crucial that they take regular eye examinations to help spot sight loss or damage at an early stage. Optometrists can help detect conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, so encouraging your staff to make regular visits to the optician is an important step in maintaining good eye health.

Simple measures such as posters around the office or sending regular reminders in the form of an internal newsletter can be an easy way to promote staff checks.

Continue reading here:
Alastair Lockwood's blog: Are your drivers' eyes ready for the road this summer? - BusinessCar

Now that people are working from home, lots of time is spent looking at screens and that could cause eye strain. It could be your phone, tablet, laptop or TV. The problem lies in the fact that theres no break from when you sit down to when you finally get up.

Your health is important. So lets understand this and how we can prevent it.

Perhaps when you were growing up, your parents limited the amount of television you watched because they thought it would hurt your eyes. African parents are too guilty of this one. Personally, everything that went wrong was because of uko kwa hio simu sana (you spend too much time on your phone).

Either I didnt finish my homework, or I lost something. It was all due to the phone. Theres a time I got a stomach ache and somehow it was roped into using my phone. I thought that was a bit extreme but It was and is taboo to argue with your mother so I refrained from declining the claims.

Its only natural then that some of you warned your own children to not to do the same. According to experts, staring at the computer, tablet, and smartphone screens will not permanently damage your eyesight. However, doing so can cause some bothersome side effects. Most notably computer vision syndrome (also called digital eye strain).

The most common signs ofComputer Vision Syndrome include:

You could also suffer from glare. Simply put, glare occurs when too much light enters your eye and interferes with your eyes ability to manage it.

If you suffer from any of these symptoms, follow these few steps the next time you sit down to work.

Also, regular short breaks can help to keep you energized and focused. Try setting a countdown timer while you do an hour of work. When the alarm goes off, reward yourself with a five- or 10-minute break. You could make coffee or get some fresh air. Its vital that you get out of your chair during the day.

Excerpt from:
Best Practices To Prevent Eye Strain and Fatigue While Working From Home - Gadgets Africa

Three Keck School of Medicine professors created Argus II retinal prosthesis systems, an implant that helps patients who have become blind by retinitis pigmentosa. With the grant, the team looks to create a new device to prevent vision loss. (Daily Trojan file photo)

Inspired by his life research in retinal prosthesis, co-director of the Roski Eye Institute Mark Humayun is in the early stages of developing retinal contacts that could prevent or slow down vision loss. Humayun, along with a team of experts that includes Keck School of Medicine Provost Gianluca Lazzi and assistant professor of translational genomics Bodour Salhia, won an award of nearly $2 million from the National Science Foundation Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation to further research on the contacts.

As a Keck professor of ophthalmology and director of the USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, Humayuns idea for retinal contacts came from his prior work in vision restoration. Humayun invented Argus II retinal prosthesis systems, an implant behind the eye that helps restore vision to blind patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder where the retinal cells at the back of the eye start to break down and become damaged.

[The grant] led us to consider this approach to try a controlled electrical stimulation to see if we could slow down or even prevent vision loss from certain types of retinal degeneration and retinal diseases, Humayun said.

The purpose of retinal research and lens device creation is to develop preventative measures for patients who are at risk of becoming blind from these diseases, whereas the Argus II treats patients after theyve already gone blind. The team of experts plans to continue this in their research funded by the grant.

The first step is to really demonstrate whether true utilization of this device through electrical stimulation will in fact result in meaningful slowing of neuron loss, Lazzi said.

The device also induces indirect electrical pulses that activate the remaining neurons in the retina. After working with Lazzi and finishing final tests, Humayun trained numerous surgeons on how to properly install the Argus II implant behind the eye. Approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 2013, the system became the first approved artificial retina system and has been commercially released through Second Sight, a medical prosthetics company for neurostimulation devices.

For more than 20 years, Lazzi has been part of the development team for Argus IIs hardware, ensuring its electronic functionality while implanted behind the eye. Lazzi said Argus II activates similarly to a scoreboard where hundreds of LED lights behind the eye turn on and off to display a partial image the blind patient sees by targeting certain points in the retina.

From his previous work in the bioelectromagnetic field, Humayun was able to develop the idea to use electrical stimulation to restore vision to people who are blind while Lazzi designed electrodes that would be placed on the retina to ensure the electronics used work properly in the eye.

The engineering work for the project has proved challenging because contacts were composed of electronic systems that pose a safety risk and may be damaged when submerged in the salty vitreous humor of the eye, Lazzi said. The issues have since been resolved by having electric currents and wireless transmissions strictly regulated in a casing.

Humayun also reached out to colleague Salhia in 2018 to ask her to collaborate on the project based on her translational genomics labs research with rat retinas that have degenerative diseases. Through this work, the team was able to show that electrical stimulation to the retina caused changes to genes associated with neuroprotection that maintains the structural integrity of neurons, which aids in preventing cell death.

The beauty of the project lies in how three groups from very different backgrounds basically come together to solve a problem, Salhia said. Its been one the funnest and most exciting and most innovative projects that Ive recently engaged in because its just so highly interdisciplinary and people from very different backgrounds are coming together to solve a problem.

Although the team of three has just begun its research for a new vision device with the funds provided from the grant, its members have already seen encouraging results in Salhias research on rat retinas and are looking forward to continuing their work to help patients in the coming years.

We have this grant for three years, so we hope to be in a pretty good position, Humayun said. In three years, we hope to be pretty far along in all these aspects as to whether we would be ready to do human studies.

Read more:
Keck professors receive grant to further retinal research - Daily Trojan Online

Many of you might be having difficulty with eyesight; it could be a reading disorder or issues with viewing objects placed at distant. When things appear hazy, blurry or double, then its time to ring the bells. Blessed are those who have only one eyesight disorder, but the problematic condition is with those who have both nearsightedness and farsightedness along with prism or astigmatism and are not used to Varifocals.

What are Varifocal Glasses?

Varifocal glasses can be considered as the advanced version of bifocal glasses, wherein there are not two but three different zones of viewing the objects from one single lens. This means the upper portion of the glass lens is designed to correct nearsightedness and clear distant objects, the lower portion is engineered to correct farsightedness whereas the middle portion of the lens provides intermediate vision clarity. The unique part about the varifocal glasses is that although there is a smooth transition from one zone of the lens to the other, there is no visible line that distinguishes three different zones.

Is it hard to get used to Varifocals?

The answer lies with the user. This is because some of the users find it easy to get used to varifocals, whereas some may find it difficult to adjust to the new pair.of glasses initially. Generally, it is observed that it takes 2 to 4 weeks to get acquainted with the varifocal glasses.

When the user begins with the varifocals, truly it is not an easy job to view through three different vision correction portions of the lens. The user may experience all or any of the following issues while starting with the new pair of Varifocal glasses:

Why it is hard to get used to Varifocals?

The reason for the user to find it hard while initiating the use of Varifocals is that our brain is habitual to either not wearing glasses or wearing single vision or bifocal glasses. Therefore, the focus of the eyes is also fixed as per the previous glasses. With the new varifocal glasses, the brain needs to re-program the routine as per the focal points of the varifocal glasses. As the user starts wearing the varifocal glasses on a regular basis, the brain, as well as the eyes, becomes used to the new pair.

How to manage and get used to Varifocals?

The only trick to get used to the Varifocal is to wear them as much as you can. Regular usage of the varifocal glasses will help the user in practicing as well as identifying the focal points of the lens. Besides, never go back to using your old pair of single or bifocal lenses, as this will only exaggerate the problem for the user. Therefore, strictly follow to wear your new varifocal glasses, as much as you can. Whether you are reading, cooking, watching TV, playing, just remember to put your glasses on. It is advised not to drive initially as there could be a high probability of misjudgment and the driver may not be able to focus clearly on the road.

Where can I buy varifocal glasses online in the UK?

You can buy one of the best pair of varifocal glasses online from Specscart and also at their stores in Walkden and Bury. Specscart manufactures the highest quality eyeglasses with affordable price tags. The varifocal glasses crafted by Specscart are digitally advanced to provide enhanced visual clarity. These glasses are already loaded with anti-glare and anti-UV protection properties and are offered free of cost. Besides, you can also opt for the anti-blue light coating on the glasses. The smooth transition from one zone to another is the essence of varifocal glasses that are highly maintained by Specscart at its state of the art laboratory.

Regarding the quality and designs of the frames for varifocal glasses online, Specscart does not compromise on the quality, colour, pattern, design and brands of the eyeglasses frames. You will get hundreds of attractive specs frames to choose from for your varifocal glasses. If selecting frames online is not your cup of tea, then try glasses at home to choose the one that suits you.

So log on to Specscart to find out which pair of varifocal glasses suit your personality and enter your latest prescription to get the fastest dispatch of glasses at your doorstep.

Read the original here:
Is it hard to get used to Varifocals? - Scubby

Keep yourself up-to-date with latest market trends and maintain a competitive edge by sizing up with available business opportunity in Global Single vision Lenses Market various segments and emerging territory. Advance Market Analytics recently introduced Global Single vision Lenses Market Report tracks the major market procedures including Market Overview, Business Revenue, Introduction, Gross profit & business strategies opted by key market players. The report also focuses on market size, volume and value, shipment, price, interview record, business distribution etc. These data help the consumer know about the competitors better. It also covers different industries clients information, which is very important to understand the market

The major players in Global Single vision Lenses Market:

Carl Zeiss AG (Germany),Essilor International S.A. (France),Hoya Vision Care Co. (Thailand),Rodenstock GmbH (Germany),Nikon Corporation (Japan),Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. (United States),CooperVision Inc (United States),Vision Rx Lab (India),SIGMA Corporation (Japan),Marchon Eyewear (VSP Australia) (Australia)

These major players have adopted various organic as well as inorganic growth strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, and others to strengthen their position in this market.

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What is Single vision Lenses?

Single vision lenses have just one prescription and feature a single field of vision or one power throughout the entire lens suitable for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Thes lenses are used for reading purposes, as the problems with eyesight and awareness of eye health increasing the global single vision lenses market are also increasing. The introduction of IoT related technology in lenses is continuously increasing the market. However, the problem associated with side effects and maintaining the lenses might be the problem for the market

Market Drivers:

Increasing Prevalence of Weak Eyesight in Youngsters

Growing Awareness about Eye Health

Market Trends:

Adoption of IoT Based Advanced Single Vision Lenses

Introduction of Sports Single Vision Lenses

Market Challenges:

Lack of Proper Resolution and Fitting can be the Market Hindrance

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Consumer Traits (If Applicable)

The regional analysis of Global Single vision Lenses Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world. Whereas, owing to rising no. of research activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate the forecast period 2019-2025.

What Global Global Single vision Lenses Market Report Contributes?

In short, the report is a vital guide for understanding the Global Single vision Lenses industry accomplishments to the extent each significant perspective like all around learning of the genuine players and benefactors influencing the Global 11691 Market advertise. The examination moreover bases on current Global Single vision Lenses point of view, bargains edge, inconspicuous components of the Global Single vision Lenses showcase movement.

Key highlights of the Study:

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There are 15 Chapters analyzing in detail about Global Single vision Lenses market.

Chapter 1: to describe Global Single vision Lenses Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;

Chapter 2: to analyze the top manufacturers of Global Single vision Lenses, with sales, revenue, and price of Global Single vision Lenses, in 2012 to 2018;

Chapter 3: to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2012 to 2018;

Chapter 4: to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Global Single vision Lenses, for each region, from 2012 to 2023;

Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;

Chapter 10 and 11: to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2023;

Chapter 12: Global Single vision Lenses market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;

Chapter 13, 14 and 15: to describe Global Single vision Lenses sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

Finally, this report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years, the Report also brief deals with the product life cycle, comparing it to the relevant products from across industries that had already been commercialized details the potential for various applications, discussing about recent product innovations and gives an overview on potential regional market shares.

Key questions answered

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Thanks for reading this article, you can also get separate chapter wise or region wise report versions including North America, Europe or Asia.

About Author:

Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies revenues.

Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.

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Read more:
Heres How Single vision Lenses Market to Flourish with Significant CAGR by 2026 | Biggest Opportunity of 2020 - The Fuel Fox

Documentary "Human Nature" examines how gene editing can help - and hurt - humanity.

If youre familiar with the Replicates from Blade Runner, the velociraptors from Jurassic Park or the genetic engineering so chillingly laid out in Aldous Huxleys novel Brave New World, youll be fascinated by how much science fiction has become science fact in Adam Bolts Human Nature. And its all due to CRISPR (pronounced crisper), a gene-altering technology that not only could facilitate designer babies, but possibly play a central role in putting the clamps on another acronym, COVID-19.

That timeliness is obviously on the side of Human Nature, a snazzy-looking documentary using sparkling graphics and top geneticists, journalists and one very adorable sickle-cell anemic to spell out a complicated subject in compelling, easy-to-grasp terms. But that same timeliness also works against it, given how now is not an advantageous moment for the films commercial aspects amid a landscape of shuttered theaters and a frightened populace whod like to avoid anything to do with medicine and science as sources of entertainment.

Yet, that double-edged sword fits snuggly in the wheelhouse of CRISPR (short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), a microorganism able to locate and repair defective DNA, as well as fend off invading viruses like COVID-19 by acting as a defense shield mimicking the offenders own DNA. But like the Internet, a revolutionary breakthrough for which CRISPR is often compared, theres a serious downside involving the morality of whether humans should have the right to, as the film calls it, play God. Namely, should parents be allowed to treat an embryo the same way theyd approach ordering a pizza? Well have the regular with blue eyes, blonde hair and an IQ of Einstein. Oh, and could you throw in some immense athletic ability, too?

Clearly, CRISPR has the potential to put us at the mercy of the type of mad scientists weve become accustomed to in just about every Bond film ever made. One geneticist, whose very name, Jennifer Doudna, includes DNA, admits having had a nightmare in which she comes face-to-face with Adolf Hitler! Are we willing to toy with the very real prospect of creating a master race?

Thats just one of the troubling questions Bolt confronts you with while weighing the pros and cons of a new frontier brimming in possibilities and danger. Personally, I come down on the side of CRISPRs benefits, particularly after meeting David Sanchez, a teen with sickle cell thats spent about half of his young life in hospitals receiving precious blood transfusions. Hes smart, personable and amazingly brave, so much so, you cant help but be all in when CRISPR offers him a chance at a more normal life. Yet, hes just as quick to recall to how hes learned to embrace -- even appreciate -- his illness because its made him a better, more resourceful kid, insights he would not have acquired had CRISPR been available when he was in utero. See? Hes torn, too.

Do we embrace a discovery wielding the promise of curing and preventing cancers and birth defects, or shun it for its ability to rob us of our unique individuality? Its a compelling argument I frankly wish Bolt had expanded more upon in his movies all-too-brief 90 minutes. But whats here is more than enough to spark a multitude of kitchen-table conversations about where we should set the limits on science, and more importantly, who should be making those decisions.

Given the disarray COVID-19 has put the world in, now probably isnt the time for us to evaluate, especially when CRISPR could well determine our fate by ridding our planet of a crippling plague. But what about after? Will, as Trump is fond to say, the cure be worse than the disease? Its a question for which Human Nature holds no answers, only utopian and despotic possibilities well be forced to uneasily choose between when and if the time comes.

See the original post here:
Movie review: Doc Human Nature strikes a nerve in the age of coronavirus - The Patriot Ledger

Alain Mrieux, founder of BioMrieux.

Latest update: April 1, 2020, at 4:47 pm ET.

Businesses around the world are shifting into overdrive to help battle the coronavirus, providing everything from rubber gloves and ventilators to diagnostic tools and, hopefully soon, vaccines. While the pandemic continues to wreak havoc, large corporations and small businesses are developing creative solutions to halt the spread of the virus.

Just as automakers famously shifted to make tanks and planes during World War II, todays global giants LVMH, Ford and GE to name a few are retooling their production lines to help make everything from hand sanitizers to respirators. On the medical front, there are more than three dozen COVID-19 vaccines under development, a smart move considering that two out of every three vaccines for infectious diseases fail, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Forbes will continue to update this list of private companies and how they are stepping up to fight the COVID-19 pandemic:

Testing:

Abbott Laboratories: Abbott Park, Illinois healthcare firm obtained emergency FDA authorization for its 5-minute coronavirus testing kit on March 27, with plans to start manufacturing 50,000 kits a day.

Alphabet: Through its healthcare arm Verily, Googles parent company launched a website where users can find nearby testing sites in four California counties.

Jeff Bezos.

Amazon: Jeff Bezos retail behemoth invested $20 million in the Amazon Web Services Diagnostic Initiative, which aims to speed up delivery of COVID-19 tests to the market.

BioMrieux: French biotech company, founded by billionaire Alain Mrieux,received emergency FDA approval for its subsidiarys new testing kit, which cuts testing times for the virus down to 45 minutes.

Carbon: California-based 3D printing unicorn backed by Russian tech investor Yuri Milner will soon be distributing testing swabs and face shields to hospitals in the Bay Area.

Cepheid: Sunnyvale, California molecular diagnostics company gained emergency FDA authorization for its new 45-minute COVID-19 testing kit.

Copan Diagnostics: Family-owned company located at the heart of Italys hard-hit Lombardy region makes diagnostic swabs for testing, airlifting 500,000 swabs to the U.S.

DiaSorin: Italian biotech company owned by billionaire Gustavo Denegri obtained emergency authorization from the FDA for its new 60-minute testing kit for COVID-19.

Mammoth Biosciences: South San Francisco-based biotech startup, founded by three 30 Under 30 alums, prototyped a rapid test by using the gene-editing tool Crispr to detect the disease.

Mesa Biotech: San Diego biotech business obtained FDA approval for its new 30-minute testing kit for COVID-19.

Puritan Medical Products: Maine-based diagnostic maker, one of the worlds largest makers of diagnostic swabs along with Italys Copan Diagnostics, is reportedly increasing production to make one million COVID-19 testing swabs a week.

Treatments:

AbbVie: North Chicago-based, publicly traded pharma firm is collaborating with authorities in the EU, the U.S. and China on experimental use of its HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir to treat COVID-19.

AIM Immunotech: Florida-based pharmaceutical company announced on March 9 it would begin experimental testing of its chronic fatigue syndrome drug rintatolimod as a treatment for COVID-19 in Japan, at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and the University of Tokyo.

Algernon Pharmaceuticals: Vancouver-based pharmaceutical firm is requesting FDA approval to begin trials of its chronic cough medication ifenprodil as a treatment for COVID-19.

AlloVir: Houston-based cell and gene therapy company is collaborating with Baylor College of Medicine to discover and develop T-cell therapies to fight COVID-19.

Apeiron Biologics: Vienna-based biotech firm started small-scale trials of its immunotherapy treatment on COVID-19 in China in February.

Ascletis: Hangzhou, China pharmaceutical company announced results of clinical trials of its antiviral drug danoprevir on COVID-19 patients in China; the small-scale study found that danoprevir combined with ritonavir is safe and well tolerated in all patients.

Bioxytran: Boston-based biotech outfit is developing a viral inhibitor to treat COVID-19.

Celltrion: South Korean healthcare firm is developing an antiviral treatment for COVID-19 as well as rapid self-testing kits that would provide results within fifteen to twenty minutes.

Cocrystal Pharma: Bothell, Washington pharma outfit is developing antivirals to treat COVID-19 using patents it recently acquired from the Kansas State University Research Foundation.

CytoDyn: Vancouver, Washington biotech firm announced preliminary results from three days of testing its antiviral drug leronlimab on COVID-19 patients in New York; the company stated in a press release that test results from the first four patients suggests immunological benefit within three days following treatment with leronlimab.

Eli Lilly: Indianapolis pharma company is partnering with Vancouver-based biotech outfit AbCellera to develop antibody-based treatments for COVID-19.

Emergent BioSolutions: Maryland drugmaker is developing treatments derived from the antibodies found in the blood of people who tested positive for the disease.

EUSA Pharma: British pharmaceutical firm initiated trials of its siltuximab antibody treatment on COVID-19 patients at the Papa Giovanni XXIII hospital in Bergamo, Italy; the company released initial data on April 1 showing that one third of patients experienced clinical improvement with reduced need for oxygen support and a further 43% saw their disease stabilise.

Fujifilm Toyama Chemical: Tokyo-based conglomerates flu drug favipiravir has shown promising results in early clinical trials on COVID-19 patients in China, and the company is investing $83 million in its biological manufacturing capabilities.

Gilead: The Californian biotech giant initiated clinical trials in March for its antiviral drug remdesivir on patients in the U.S.

Harbour BioMed: Cambridge, Massachusetts biomedical firm announced a collaboration with New Yorks Mount Sinai Health System to develop new human antibodies to treat COVID-19.

I-Mab Biopharma: Shanghai-based biopharma outfit announced it would begin clinical trials of its TJM2 antibody treatment on COVID-19 patients in the United States, with plans to expand to other countries affected by the pandemic.

ImmunoPrecise: Canadian life sciences company is teaming up with New York-based AI startup EVQLV Inc on researching antibody-based therapies and a vaccine for COVID-19.

Innovation Pharmaceuticals: Wakefield, Massachusetts biopharma firm is researching the use of its drug brilacidin part of a category of investigational new drugs called defensin mimetics, which could have antimicrobial effects as both a treatment and a vaccine for COVID-19, in separate efforts with a major U.S. university and with the Department of Health and Human Services.

ISR Immune System Regulation: Swedish immunotherapy firms subsidiary, ISR HBV, is conducting toxicological studies to determine whether its Immunolid ISR50 treatment could be used against COVID-19.

Kamada: Israeli pharmaceutical company is working on an antibody-based treatment for COVID-19 using the blood plasma of patients who recovered from the disease.

Mateon Therapeutics: Californian biopharma firm is testing a number of antiviral drugs as potential treatments for COVID-19 and is preparing to submit an application to the FDA in order to begin clinical trials on patients.

Merck KGaA: Darmstadt, Germany-based pharma multinational donated a supply of its multiple sclerosis drug interferon beta-1a to the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris for clinical trials on COVID-19 patients. The companys North American life sciences arm, MilliporeSigma, is supplying several vaccine efforts with reagents and other essential raw products for vaccine development.

Mesoblast: Australian medical firm is working with authorities in the U.S., Australia, China and Europe to evaluate the use of its remestemcel-L drug to treat COVID-19.

Mylan: Pennsylvania-based pharmaceutical firm restarted production of hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to fight lupus, malaria and arthritis, at its West Virginia factory; the drug is being tested as a treatment for COVID-19 in human trials in New York.

Pluristem Therapeutics: Haifa, Israel-based medical company is developing a cell-based therapy to treat COVID-19, announcing on March 30 it had dosed three Israeli patients under a compassionate use program, with plans to enroll more.

Leonard Schleifer.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Westchester, New York biotech outfit, run by billionaires Leonard Schleifer and George Yancopoulos, is conducting clinical trials of its rheumatoid arthritis drug sarilumab, developed with French firm Sanofi, on patients in New York.

Roche: Swiss pharma titan, part-owned by billionaire Maja Oeri, is testing its arthritis drug tocilizumab to treat patients in China and received FDA approval to begin U.S. trials.

Roivant Sciences: Swiss pharma company is working with U.S. authorities to begin trials of its antibody treatment, gimsilumab, on COVID-19 patients.

Takeda: Japanese medical firm is working on hyperimmune therapy using blood plasma from previously infected patients.

Vir Biotechnology: The San Francisco-based firm is collaborating with Biogen and Chinese medical firm WuXi Biologics to manufacture antibodies that could treat the virus.

Vaccines:

AJ Vaccines: Danish vaccine developer is working on a COVID-19 vaccine that could hit the market in 2021.

Altimmune: The company is developing a novel intranasal vaccine for the coronavirus, making it one of three firms based in Gaithersburg, Maryland along with Emergent Biosolutions and Novavax thats working on treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Arcturus Therapeutics: San Diego-based vaccine maker is developing a COVID-19 vaccine with researchers at the Duke-National University of Singapore medical school in Singapore.

Biocad: Russian drug developer is researching a COVID-19 vaccine, with animal trials scheduled for late April.

Thomas and Andreas Struengmann.

BioNTech: German biotech firm backed by billionaire twins Thomas and Andreas Struengmann is working to develop a coronavirus vaccine in partnership with Pfizer and Fosun Pharma, chaired by billionaire Guo Guangchang.

CanSino Biologics: Tianjin, China-based pharma company isstarting clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine, using the vaccine technology deployed to develop the Ebola vaccine.

Codagenix: Melville, New York biotech firm is teaming up with the Serum Institute of India to develop a live-attenuated COVID-19 vaccine, which uses a live but weakened form of the virus.

Dietmar Hopp.

CureVac: German firm, funded by billionaire Dietmar Hopp and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, received $87 million from the European Commission to scale up development of its coronavirus vaccine.

Dyadic: Jupiter, Florida company is collaborating with the Israel Institute for Biological Research on both treatment and a vaccine against COVID-19, using the firms gene expression platform.

Dynavax: Emeryville, California vaccine maker is working with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the University of Queensland to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.

EpiVax: Providence-based immunology firm is working with the University of Georgia and Miramar, Florida biotech outfit Generex on separate COVID-19 vaccine efforts.

ExpreS2ion: Danish biotech company received a grant of nearly $1 million from the European Union to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.

GeoVax: Atlanta-based medical company is collaborating with Wuhan-based BioVax to jointly produce a COVID-19 vaccine.

GlaxoSmithKline: British pharma titan is partnering with CEPI and Chengdu, China-based Clover Pharmaceuticals to use its pandemic vaccine adjuvant platform which boosts the immune response in patients receiving a shot to speed up development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Greffex: Houston-based genetic engineering firm is preparing to begin animal trials for its COVID-19 vaccine.

Heat Biologics: North Carolina biopharma company is developing a COVID-19 vaccine with the University of Miami.

iBio: Newark, Delaware biotech upstart is collaborating with Beijing-based CC-Pharming on the rapid development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Inovio: Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania biotech business received $11.9 million in funding from the Department of Defense to rapidly produce a DNA vaccine for COVID-19 with drugmaker Ology Bioservices.

Johnson & Johnson: The companys pharma unit, Janssen, will start manufacturing its vaccine developed with the Department of Health and Human Services this month, with human trials set to begin by September and a public rollout hoped for early 2021. The company and the federal government are investing more than $1 billion in the vaccine effort.

Medicago: Quebec City-based biotech company received more than $7 million from the Canadian and Quebec governments to fund development of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Moderna: Massachusetts biotech company was the first tobegin human trials of its vaccine on March 16 in Seattle and could deploy it to health workers for emergency use by the fall.

Novavax: Maryland-based vaccine maker received $4 million in funding from CEPI to accelerate development of its vaccine candidates, with clinical trials expected in the late spring.

Sanofi: French medical firm is working with the federal government and Massachusetts-based Translate Bio to expedite its coronavirus vaccine, using technology previously used to develop one for SARS.

Sorrento Therapeutics: San Diego-based biotech firm is teaming up with Cambridge, MA gene therapy company SmartPharm Therapeutics to develop a gene-encoded COVID-19 vaccine; its also working with Chinese drugmaker Mabpharm on a fusion protein treatment for the disease.

Takis Biotech: Italian startup with just 25 employees is developing a vaccine with Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences, with plans to begin human trials before the end of the year.

Themis Bioscience: Austrian biotech firm is part of a group, with the Institut Pasteur and the University of Pittsburgh, which received $4.9 million in initial funding from CEPI to build a COVID-19 vaccine modeled on the vaccine for measles.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals: New York-based pharma outfit is researching a potential COVID-19 vaccine based on the virus that causes horsepox.

Vaxart: San Francisco vaccine manufacturer Vaxart is working with Emergent Biosolutions to develop and manufacture an oral vaccine that can be taken as a tablet.

Vaxil: Israeli biotech startup began preclinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Zydus Cadila: Indian pharma company announced it would fast-track development of a COVID-19 vaccine in February.

Protective Equipment And Sanitizer:

Anheuser-Busch InBev: The worlds largest beer company is making more than one million bottles of hand sanitizer from surplus alcohol at its breweries around the world.

Giorgio Armani.

Armani: Billionaire Giorgio Armanis luxury fashion brand converted all production at its Italian factories to manufacture single-use medical overalls on March 26.

Bacardi: The Bermuda-based spirits giant converted production at nine production facilities in Mexico, France, England, Italy, Scotland, Puerto Rico and the continental U.S. to make hand sanitizer.

BrewDog: Independent beermaker is making hand sanitizer at its distillery in Scotland.

Bulgari: The Italian luxury jeweler is manufacturing hand sanitizer with its fragrances partner, ICR, with plans to make hundreds of thousands of bottles by May.

Sandro Veronesi.

Calzedonia Group: Italian retail clothing group, owned by billionaire Sandro Veronesi, converted production at several plants in Italy and Croatia to manufacture masks and medical gowns, with initial production of 10,000 masks a day.

Cantabria Labs: Spanish health products and cosmetics firm converted production at one of its factories to make hand sanitizer.

Consomed: Tunisian mask and medical equipment maker put all of its workers, more than 70% of which are reportedly women, on quarantine inside the companys Kairouan factory to maximize production of protective gear.

Decathlon: Sporting goods empire founded by French billionaire Michel Leclercq partnered with Isinnova, a small engineering and design firm based in Italy, to convert snorkeling masks into respirators.

Diageo: The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka donated two million liters of ethyl alcohol, a byproduct of the distillation process, to hand sanitizer manufacturers.

Fanatics: Billionaire Michael Rubins online sportswear retailer converted its baseball jersey factory in Pennsylvania to make masks and gowns for medical workers.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: The multinational automaker announced on March 23 it would begin installing capacity to produce masks, which will be initially distributed in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Fippi: Italian diapers producer worked with the Lombardy region and the Polytechnic University of Milan to convert its factory to make up to 900,000 masks a day, which will go to frontline health workers facing a devastating outbreak in the region.

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Coronavirus Business Tracker: How The Private Sector Is Fighting The COVID-19 Pandemic - Forbes