Industry News

CIBA expands Web site

ATLANTA — After introducing mycibavision.com to eye care professionals, CIBA Vision is adding three new features to the already successful Web site, according to a company press release.

In addition to the online ordering, tracking and document retrieval capabilities, the site will now enable providers to order made to order lenses, to fulfill their annual supply orders and to have a patient’s order delivered directly their home address.

Since the launch of the mycibavision.com Web site on June 1, 2003, nearly 4,000 eye care professionals in the United States and Canada have taken advantage of the 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a week Web site.

Addition Technology announces 85% increase in sales in 4th quarter

DES PLAINES, Ill. — Addition Technology, Inc announced that fourth quarter 2003 sales of Intacs inserts increased 85% as compared to the same quarter of the prior year and 32% over the third quarter of 2003, according to a company press release.

Sales in Europe and North America increased following the news in early November that Addition had received European regulatory approval for the use of Intacs inserts in the treatment of keratoconus.

“With European approval, more corneal surgeons have found Intacs inserts to be a beneficial alternative for keratoconus. Intacs fills the large void between treatment with a contact lens and the option-of-last-resort – a corneal transplant,” said William M. Flynn, president and chief executive officer of Addition Technology.

Addition Technology, Inc. manufactures Intacs prescription inserts, the only additive refractive corneal implant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Intacs are also approved for distribution in Europe, Asia and Mexico.

Refocus Group granted go-ahead for phase 2 presbyopia trial

DALLAS — U.S. regulators have granted approval for initiation of a phase 2 trial of Refocus Group’s scleral implants and spacing procedure for the treatment of presbyopia, according to a press release from the company.

The Food and Drug Administration’s approval is conditional on the company’s submission of additional documentation concurrent with the initiation of the clinical study, according to the release.

The phase 2 trial will be a multicenter, randomized study, with 100 patients receiving the company’s Scleral Spacing Procedure and another 50 patients designated as controls. Refocus Group has approval to begin enrollment at up to 10 sites in the United States.

CIBA dedicates sales force to North America

ATLANTA — CIBA Vision has announced that it has added a dedicated FreshLook sales group in North America to assist eye care professionals in actively growing their contact lens practices, according to a company press release.

CIBA is also expanding its North America Lens Care sales group who focus on education practitioners on the patient benefits of lens care products such as Clear Care and Solo-care Plus.

“With the support of our new sales groups and ongoing consumer marketing support, it’s never been easier for eye care practices to grow their FreshLook lens business and to be updated on the latest CIBA Vision lens care offerings,” said Trevor Maurer, executive director, CIBA Vision North America sales.

Inspire launches Elestat

DURHAM, N.C. — Inspire Pharmaceuticals launched Elestat (epinastine HCL ophthalmic solution 0.05%) on Feb. 2, according to a company press release.

Elestat is a topical antihistamine with mast cell stabilizing and anti-inflammatory activity developed by Allergan for the relief of ocular itching associated with ocular allergies.

Alcon on Fortune’s 100 best companies to work for

FORT WORTH, Texas — Alcon ranked 59th on Fortune magazine 2004 list of “100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States,” according to a company press release.

“We work to maintain an environment that is enjoyable and personally rewarding and in which employees take great pride in all that we accomplish as a team,” said Kay Cox, vice president, Human Resources.

This is the sixth straight year that Alcon has made the list.

Carl Zeiss takes over software company

JENA, Germany — Carl Zeiss Meditec has taken over 100% interest in hiko medical communications GmbH of Pirmasens on Dec. 17, 2003, according to a company press release.

Hiko medical communications GmbH specializes in the development of medical software solutions and markets VISUPAC, which enables filing and management of diagnostic and treatment data by eye care specialists and clinics. Hiko also has an efficient team of development, marketing and service specialists at its disposal.

“The takeover of our longstanding alliance partner, hiko medical communications GmbH, represents a further step in our strategy,” said Ulrich Krauss, president and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. “We will be securing the necessary resources and know-how for ourselves, in order to expand our equipment and systems business to include special cross-platform software solutions for ophthalmic applications.”

B&L receives patent for Ocuvite

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bausch & Lomb (NYSE: BOL) has received exclusive patent rights to the National Institute’s AREDS Formulas used in Ocuvite PreserVision, according to a company press release.

Bausch & Lomb co-developed the formula with the National Eye Institute, who supplied the tablets used in the 10-year Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). Bausch & Lomb made the AREDS formula available to consumers as Ocuvite PreserVision dietary supplements after the results of the AREDS were released in October 2001.

The dietary supplements, which contain vitamins A, C, and E and minerals zinc and copper, which have been proven to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration and its associated vision loss among people most at risk.

Eyedock.com launches online database

MADISON, Wis. — Eyedock.com has released its ocular pharmaceuticals reference database for eye care practitioners to search for topical ocular therapeutic drugs according to generic or trade name, class of drug and manufacturer, according to a company press release.

The database enables doctors to find quick-reference information for each medicine, which includes typical dosing, approximate retail cost, available dispensing sizes, pediatric rating, use in nursing mothers, and pregnancy class.

“The Eyedock web site brings ocular pharmacology into the 21st century by providing quick, easy, relevant online drug information to the busy clinician,” said Bruce Onofrey, OD, RPh, FAAO, vice chairman of eye services and chief of Optometry at Lovelace Medical Center.

The new pharmaceutical reference on Eyedock.com complements an existing searchable contact lens database with nearly 400 lenses. Eyedock.com also features clinical calculators that streamline the process of prescribing gas permeable and hydrogel contact lenses.