Paul M. Karpecki, O.D., Review of Optometrys education advisor and author of the Research Review column, has accepted a position in cornea and ocular surface disease at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. Cincinnati Eye Institute is the largest ophthalmology clinic in the United States, with more than 46 eye doctors. Dr. Karpecki will work in the Edgewood, Ky., office, which provides secondary and tertiary care of cornea and advanced ocular surface disease and research.

 

Arxxant (ruboxistaurin, Eli Lilly) may never make it to market. Last year, the FDA stipulated further testing to determine if Arxxant is effective in treating diabetic retinopathy. The drug demonstrated little benefit in clinical trials, the FDA said. Lilly appealed the ruling. In March, the FDA denied the appeal. Lilly says it wont appeal the ruling again, and may wind up shelving the drug.

 

New preclinical data suggests that Othera Pharmaceuticals OT-551 eye drop has a synergistic anti-angiogenic effect when used either with Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) or Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech). When OT-551 was added to either treatment, a synergistic effect occurred that was not present with either Lucentis or Avastin alone. Phase II clinical trials are in the works.