London Eye Hospital Pharma Announces US Clinical Introduction of iolAMD™

CHICAGO, October 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

London Eye Hospital Pharma, a London based medical device and pharmaceutical company, announced today that it has initiated US discussions to gain clinical data for its iolAMD lens system (http://www.iolAMD.com ).  iolAMD is a novel intraocular lens system designed to restore lost vision and provide an independent lifestyle for patients with early, intermediate and advanced dry AMD and other macular diseases including diabetic maculopathy.

"This is not just the next step but a giant leap in optical technology. It is immeasurably satisfying to have had a role in creating a solution which can benefit such a wide range of people for whom, at the moment, there is no treatment," says Dr. Bobby Qureshi, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, iolAMD.  "We are thrilled to introduce iolAMD to our potential US clinical partners, with the hope of bringing this ground breaking treatment to US patients upon FDA approval." 

"I am truly excited to be introducing this revolutionary technology in Germany, where we are already successfully implanting patients with iolAMD lenses," says Dr. Fritz Hengerer, Frankfurt University Hospital. "I look forward to seeing this treatment soon become the norm for early, intermediate and end stage AMD sufferers around the world." 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in people over age 55 in the developed world, with more than 20 million sufferers in the US and between 200-300 million worldwide. It is estimated that by 2020, there will be nearly 30 million cases of AMD in the US alone.   iolAMD is the first patient and surgeon friendly procedure to address the symptoms of dry AMD.  iolAMD is CE Marked and not available for sale in the United States.

About iolAMD 

In a world-first breakthrough in optical implants, technology that was used to fix the Hubble Telescope has been implemented into a lens that can save the sight of tens of millions of people worldwide. Until now, there has been no widely accepted treatment that can restore vision in sufferers of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in over 55s and diabetic maculopathy.  AMD is a progressive condition which affects the central vision, eventually leading to loss of sight. Previous attempts to solve this problem have involved a riskier surgical procedure, which requires a much larger incision (comparable to open heart surgery v. keyhole) through which the lens is implanted.  

Ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Bobby Qureshi, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of London Eye Hospital Pharma, joined forces with Professor Pablo Artal - the first-ever European winner of the prestigious Edward H Land Award for scientific contributions to the advancement of visual optics - to tackle the historical challenges of AMD treatment. Further information is found at http://www.iolAMD.com .

About London Eye Hospital Pharma 

London Eye Hospital Pharma was formed to bring innovative ideas to the wider ophthalmic market. As well as having access to the latest technology via our own eye hospital we wanted to be intimately involved in developing cutting edge products and technologies. By developing our own ideas we are able to drive the science of ophthalmology forward and ultimately help more people.

Through collaboration with some of the world's leading scientists and researchers we are developing a range of innovative products in order to benefit patients and the wider ophthalmic community.

Our initial areas of Research and Development are:

• Expertly researched and formulated vitamin and mineral health food supplements to improve eye health.
• Innovative medical devices including new intra-ocular lenses for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and presbyopia.
• Pharmaceuticals and drug delivery.

Further information regarding our work can be found at http://www.londoneyehospitalpharma.com

SOURCE London Eye Hospital Pharma