Eye Health America (EHA) announced a preferred partnership supply agreement with Verséa Ophthalmics. Under this new agreement, Verséa will supply its human amniotic membrane product and tear-based point-of-care (T-POC) Quantitative Testing Platform, according to a press release.
Verséa Ophthalmics will provide its BIOVANCE and BIOVANCE 3L Ocular as the preferred dehydrated human amniotic membrane tissue products used within EHA practices and ASCs to support the treatment of ocular surface disease (OSD) and ocular surgical applications, the press release stated. In addition, EHA will pilot Verséa’s POC testing platform in select offices prior to a staged expansion groupwide.
BIOVANCE and BIOVANCE 3L Ocular, which are single-layer and three-layer (3L) allografts, respectively, are intended for use as a biological membrane covering that provides an extracellular matrix. BIOVANCE 3L Ocular is acellular and consists of three layers of amniotic basement membrane that supports treatment of advanced OSD. As a barrier membrane, BIOVANCE 3L Ocular is intended to protect the underlying tissue and preserve tissue plane boundaries. Applications include corneal and conjunctival-related injuries or defects such as corneal epithelial defects, pterygium repair, fornix reconstruction, and other procedures, many of which are relevant to EHA practices and their eye-care professional teams.
The T-POC Quantitative Testing platform is used in the diagnosis and management of patients suffering from OSD. Currently the platform includes total Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is a key biomarker associated with ocular allergies (OA), and lactoferrin, which is a biomarker for aqueous deficient dry eye. Dry eye disease and OA are very prevalent diseases of the ocular surface and their symptoms often overlap and may mimic each other. T-POC testing generates a numerical value that enables clinicians to differentially diagnose a patient’s condition and to inform the prescribing decision. If the test is repeated after initiation of therapy, it may allow for confirmation of a desired therapeutic response.