Retinoblastoma

KNOXVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / January 14, 2025 / VisiRose Inc. (\"VisiRose\" or the \"Company\"), a privately-held, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel ocular therapeutics, today announced a $3 million seed financing round for VisiRose. The funds from this round will be directed toward advancing the Company\'s lead investigational program, particularly facilitating critical regulatory milestones of the clinical development of its therapies for corneal diseases and other severe ocular conditions.The proceeds from this financing round will support several key initiatives, including:Completing a pre-investigational new drug (IND) submission meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for VisiRose\'s Rose Bengal Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy (RB PDAT), a groundbreaking, non-invasive, investigational treatment for infectious keratitis and other serious eye infections.Submitting an IND application for investigational drug PV-305, targeting corneal blindness (RB) through photodynamic therapy (PDAT), and working toward its acceptance by the FDA.Manufacturing an initial clinical supply of PV-305, enabling the Company to initiate clinical trials, undertake expanded access, and move closer to regulatory approval.VisiRose is leveraging the novel ocular RB PDAT research from the University of Miami\'s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, in collaboration with Provectus Biopharmaceuticals (OTCQB: PVCT). At the heart of the Company\'s therapeutic platform is Provectus\'s bioactive synthetic small molecule, Rose Bengal Sodium (RBS), to treat a range of sight-threatening ocular conditions with high unmet medical needs.\"We are pleased to complete this financing round to support the continued progress of our ophthalmology drug pipeline,\" said Dominic Rodrigues, Acting Chief Executive Officer of VisiRose. \"The funding will enable us to advance our lead drug product candidate PV-305 through critical regulatory steps, ultimately moving us closer to providing patients with innovative therapies for corneal diseases and other serious ocular conditions.\"Juan Carlos Navia, M.D. at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, delivering the VisiRose RB PDAT treatment. Courtesy of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute About VisiRoseVisiRose is a newly launched, clinical-stage biotechnology company of the University of Miami and Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, focused on commercializing the Miller School of Medicine\'s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and its Ophthalmic Biophysics Center\'s innovative ocular research using Provectus\'s bioactive synthetic small molecule Rose Bengal Sodium (RBS). For more information, please visit: https://visirose.com.Contact:VisiRose, Inc.Dominic RodriguesActing Chief Executive Officer[email protected]For Media Inquiries:Ira M. Gostin[email protected]775-391-0213SOURCE: VisiRose, Inc.Related Documents:

Regeneron, maker of the blockbuster ophthalmology medicine Eylea, has acquired an ocular biotech, the large biopharma confirmed to Endpoints News on Thursday. The London-area biotech, named Oxular, was bought last month, according to board member and recently departed CEO Mark Gaffney. He posted about the deal on LinkedIn on Thursday afternoon. Gaffney is now CEO of inflammation and fibrosis biotech Calluna Pharma. Regeneron had not previously announced the deal, a company spokesperson confirmed in an email. The New York-based drugmaker plans to disclose more details in its next quarterly filing, the spokesperson added. “This was a targeted acquisition that provides us with a potential best-in-class delivery device for our future ocular gene therapies, with the goal of accelerating the time it will take to reach clinical readiness,” the Regeneron spokesperson wrote. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Regeneron’s clinical-stage gene therapy pipeline currently revolves around a hearing loss program. Oxular could help with its expansion. Regeneron also inked a retinal gene therapy pact with German biotech ViGeneron in April 2022. Ophthalmology has long been a cornerstone of Regeneron’s business. The pharmaceutical company reported $1.53 billion in sales of Eylea and its high-dose counterpart (marketed as Eylea HD ) in the most recent quarter. Oxular was developing a biodegradable polymer system and a semi-automated ocular administration device to help extend the duration of eye disease treatments to about 12 months. It had been in Phase 2 development and was exploring treatments for diabetic macular edema, retinoblastoma, uveal melanoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Regeneron declined to comment on whether it would continue advancing any of Oxular’s pipeline programs, including OXU-001, OXU-003, OXU-004 and OXU-005. The startup last disclosed a $37 million funding round in March 2021. It was backed by Dutch investor Forbion, IP Group, NeoMed and V-Bio Ventures. Regeneron hasn’t been as acquisitive, or doled out the same price tags, as some of its pharma peers in recent years. In early 2024, it bought the R&D unit from 2seventy bio . In 2023, it acquired hearing loss gene therapy maker Decibel Therapeutics, and in 2022, it snagged Checkmate Pharmaceuticals .

The new research from eye care nonprofit Orbis International, supported by Heidelberg Engineering, shows how telemedicine improves outcomes for children with retinoblastoma through e-learning and virtual mentorship NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Orbis International announces new research that finds telemedicine can improve care for children with retinoblastoma, a form of childhood cancer that can lead to blindness. The study, published in JCO Global Oncology, is the first to show that virtual mentor-mentee relationships through Cybersight, Orbis's free telemedicine and e-learning platform, not only improves lives, but can save them by successfully transferring skills to eye care professionals in low- and middle-income countries. Continue Reading Cybersight, Orbis’s telemedicine and e-learning platform, has delivered more than 30,000 consultations to help eye care professionals diagnose and treat patients with complex cases from all corners of the world, even reaching conflict-affected areas like Ukraine and Syria. Each year, about 9,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with retinoblastoma, but only 40% survive beyond three years. This is because 92 percent of these children live in low-and-middle-income countries, where retinoblastoma patients face late diagnosis and limited access to eye care. This groundbreaking research was supported by Heidelberg Engineering, a global leader in advanced imaging solutions. Their funding has been crucial in delivering e-learning webinars, alongside advancing research through Orbis's Cybersight platform. "Retinoblastoma can be treated if caught early, but too often, it's not diagnosed until it's too late," said Dr. Hunter Cherwek, Vice President of Clinical Services and Technologies at Orbis International. "Many low- and middle-incomes countries don't have enough resources to provide proper care, but technology offers a solution. This study shows that telemedicine can improve health outcomes for children, especially in remote areas where pediatric eye doctors are scarce." Cybersight has long been used to diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and other eye diseases, but this is the first research on its impact on retinoblastoma. The groundbreaking study explored whether Cybersight Consult – a component of the Cybersight platform that connects mentee doctors with expert mentors for advice on complex clinical cases – could improve care and treatment for retinoblastoma. Researchers also examined how virtual mentoring helps eye care professionals build expertise in retinoblastoma over time. Researchers conducted a retrospective review of 653 Cybersight retinoblastoma consultations undertaken by 38 different mentees from 2004 to 2023. They found significant improvements in knowledge-sharing over this 20-year period, especially in three areas: understanding and recording patient symptoms, classifying the disease's type and how advanced it is, and the results of treatment for both the patient and their eye health. Cybersight's virtual mentorship approach helped mentees gain critical skills to treat retinoblastoma, especially in regions with few eye care resources. Cybersight provides training, mentoring, and online courses to eye care professionals around the world. The platform has helped train eye care professionals in nearly every country and territory and counts around 15% of the world's ophthalmologists as registered users. The study reveals the potential of using communication and digital technologies to help children around the world see – and survive. About Orbis International Orbis is an international nonprofit delivering sight-saving programs in over 200 countries and territories worldwide so that individuals, families, and communities can thrive. Currently, around 1 billion people across the globe live with completely avoidable blindness and vision loss. For over four decades, Orbis has been tackling this challenge by building strong and sustainable eye care systems that leave a lasting legacy of vision. Orbis runs dedicated in-country programs in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America; develops and implements innovative training and technology, including an award-winning telemedicine and e-learning platform, Cybersight; and operates the world's first and only Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft. For the past 11 consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity Navigator's coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, placing Orbis in the top 3% of U.S. charities. For the past three years, Orbis has earned GuideStar's platinum Seal of Transparency. Since 2022, Orbis has earned "accredited charity" status from the Better Business Bureau by meeting all 20 of their standards for charity accountability. To learn more, please visit orbis.org. MEDIA CONTACT Jenna Montgomery Manager, Global Communications and Marketing [email protected] SOURCE Orbis International WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED