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Ophthalmology needs more innovation representation
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SAN FRANCISCO — Ophthalmic innovations are steadily moving forward, but not quite at the rate of other specialties, Emmett T. Cunningham, Jr., MD, PhD, MPH, explained during the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.
Cunningham’s 2019 Year in Review discussion detailed a robust year for FDA new molecular entity approvals; however, ophthalmology has garnered only one approved biologics license application and six new drug application approvals this year.
“Ophthalmology has normally one or two new molecular entities, but on the innovation scale we’re not knocking it out of the park, to be frank,” he said.
Despite the low number of approvals, some of the new products are impressive innovations worth note, he said.
EyePoint’s Yutiq (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant), Bausch + Lomb’s Lotemax SM (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel 0.38%) and Aerie Pharmaceuticals’ Rocklatan (netarsudil 0.02%/latanoprost 0.005% ophthalmic solution) have all been breakthrough products, Cunningham said.
The one ophthalmology BLA approval, Beovu, Novartis’ brolucizumab treatment for wet AMD, is a step in the right direction, he said.
“It’s really the first step into what is durable, sustained effect, if not sustained release,” Cunningham said.
“We’re represented, but I think we could do better, he added. “I think we need to identify more targets in this space.” – by Rebecca L. Forand
Reference:
Cunningham E. Welcome and chairman’s 2019 year in review. Presented at: Ophthalmology Innovation Summit; Oct. 10, 2019; San Francisco.
Disclosure: Cunningham reports he is the senior managing director for Blackstone Life Sciences.