Week in review: Regeneron revenue, retinal disease, OCT surprise

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Regeneron’s doing just fine, financially speaking. Despite a decline in Eylea sales during the pandemic, the company beat second-quarter profit estimates. Overall revenue increased 24% to $1.95 billion due, in part, to a 70% increase in sales of the eczema drug Dupixent. Regeneron also recorded revenue related to government funding to develop an antibody treatment for COVID-19. Trials for Regeneron’s antibody cocktail REGN-COV2 are already underway, with initial results anticipated for next month. Regeneron, Reuters

eSight announced CE approval for their latest assistive technology device for vision enhancement. Intended for people with visual acuities between 20/60 to 20/1400, the new eSight 4 headset augments sight using a best-match camera and lens tech, advanced sensors and proprietary algorithms. In addition, the wireless device provides users a 24x zoom and maintains use of natural peripheral vision courtesy of a unique, patented biopic tilt. Since the headset is cloud-based, wearers can even show loved ones what they are seeing. The device is slated to ship in the fall. eSight

Glycolytic metabolites may contribute to blinding retinal diseases, according to a new study in Science Translational Medicine. The findings suggest that the excessive inflammation and dysfunctional capillaries noted in retinal diseases may be due to an oversupply of the glycolysis byproduct lactate. In low-oxygen conditions—such as premature birth or diabetes—retinal endothelial cells not only turn to glycolysis for energy production but provoke neighboring microglia to produce more lactate. Unfortunately, this crosstalk triggers pathological angiogenesis, a major cause of irreversible blindness. Although the exact mechanisms still remain unclear, the researchers hope that targeting metabolic changes may lead to earlier intervention strategies that, unlike current anti-VEGF therapies, promote both repair and restoration. Augusta University, Science Translational Medicine

And the OCT shows … a dead worm in your eye? Well, at least that is what a 33-year old woman heard after presenting with mild decrease in vision for 2 months. Fundus findings showed optic disc pallor and diffuse retinal pigment epithelial atrophy consistent with diagnosis of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis, however the fovea was spared. Upon closer examination, her doctors discovered a coiled immobile dead worm measuring 2000 x 100 microns inferiorly in the vitreous cavity (image above). Ophthalmology Retina