• Coherus BioSciences announced the commercial availability, beginning Oct. 3, 2022, of CIMERLI (ranibizumab-eqrn), the first FDA-approved biosimilar product interchangeable with Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for all indications. Approved by the FDA in August 2022, CIMERLI is an anti-VEGF therapy within a class of biologics that has helped retinal patients maintain or gain vision. CIMERLI is indicated for patients with neovascular wet AMD, macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy and myopic choroidal neovascularization.

• Prevent Blindness declared Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2022, as the second annual Inflammatory Eye Disease (IED) Awareness Week. Prevent Blindness offers a dedicated webpage providing detailed information on IED, downloadable fact sheets in English and Spanish and resources for eye care. New this year is a Spanish version of the Prevent Blindness Keratitis fact sheet. Social media messages and graphics will be posted on the Prevent Blindness social media channels throughout the week, with professionals and the public encouraged to share and post as well. Prevent Blindness also offers its “Inflammatory Eye Disease” episode of the Focus on Eye Health Expert Series, featuring Dr. Ann-Marie Lobo.

• Researchers from the Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences at the Wayne State University School of Medicine have identified that three non-antibiotic drugs — Dequalinium chloride, Clofilium tosylate and Glybenclamide — can protect the eye from severe inflammation during bacterial infection. The drugs can also be used as adjunct therapy with standard antibiotics to minimize infection outcomes. 

• Nicox SA announced the last patients completed their final (3-month) visit in the Mont Blanc Phase 3 clinical trial of NCX 470 0.1% for reduction of IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. A total of 691 patients were enrolled in the trial. NCX 470, Nicox’s lead clinical product candidate, is a novel, potentially best-in-class, nitric oxide (NO)-donating prostaglandin analog eyedrop. Topline results of the Mont Blanc trial are due in early November 2022.

• The first subject was dosed in Adverum Biotechnologies’ LUNA Phase 2 trial evaluating ixoberogene soroparvovec (Ixo-vec, formerly referred to as ADVM-022) for the treatment of wet AMD. The trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of two dose levels of a single, in-office intravitreal injection of the drug. The LUNA trial primary endpoints are mean change in BCVA from baseline to one year and the incidence and severity of adverse events.

Quick Notes is published weekly. Unless otherwise noted, the information presented is based on press releases. Find earlier editions here. To submit a press release to be considered for publication, click here.