Week in review: Hot water, turmeric cure, needle puncture

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Novartis—along with Roche—finds itself in more hot water. France’s competition authority has fined the duo $526 million for using “abusive practices” to promote ranibizumab (Lucentis) for AMD over bevacizumab (Avastin). The organization notes that Novartis is also being punished for “unjustifiably exaggerating” the risks of bevacizumab, which is approximately 30 times cheaper. According to the decision, Novartis must pay $455 million, which the company plans to appeal. Meanwhile, Roche, who has to pony up $71 million, states they will “assess our next steps.” Reuters

LumiThera has snagged a $1.5 million NEI grant for their photobiomodulation treatment designed to treat diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. The grant paves way for a randomized, multicenter clinical trial evaluating how the platform could improve vision and disease pathology over 6 months of follow-up. The system has been approved in Europe since 2018 for the treatment of dry AMD. LumiThera

It might be time to share the turmeric trend with man’s best friend. New findings suggest curcumin, a compound found in the popular spice, may reduce ocular inflammation in dogs with uveitis. Researchers at Texas A&M University report that a novel formulation of curcumin—with a special nanoparticle to boost absorption across intestinal and ocular barriers—appears to safely and effectively manage uveitis without any known side effects.. “By studying animal patients with naturally occurring eye diseases, our findings may accelerate the development of medications to benefit both animals and humans,” said study investigator Erin Scott, VMD. Texas A&M University

“Judicious use and appropriate technique of intravitreal injections in neonates is essential,” researchers warn in the latest issue of Ophthalmology. In their new case study, a 3-month-old presented with poor red reflex after photocoagulation and bevacizumab injection for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Closer examination revealed lamellar cataract in the right eye with a needle track going into the lens that resembled a teardrop (image above), and dehiscence of the posterior capsule. The infant was treated with phaco-aspiration in the right eye without intraocular implantation. Ophthalmology