New Laser Therapy for Retinal Diseases

Discussion in 'Laser Eye Surgery' started by Irv Arons, Nov 1, 2007.

  1. Irv Arons

    Irv Arons Guest

    I just received this news release about a new treatment for retinal
    disease that will be released and discussed at the upcoming AAO
    meeting in New Orleans.

    Ellex Announces New Retina Regeneration Therapy to be Presented at the
    AAO

    Adelaide, 1 November 2007 - Ellex Medical Lasers Limited (ASX:ELX), a
    global leader in the design and manufacture of ophthalmic laser and
    ultrasound systems, announced today that the initial results of
    treating patients with Retina Regeneration Therapy (Ellex 2RTT) will
    be presented by Peter Hamilton MD, FRCOph at the annual meeting of the
    American Academy of Ophthalmology, which takes place November 10-13,
    in New Orleans. Dr. Hamilton conducted the first patient treatments
    recently in London under the direction of Professor John Marshall,
    Ph.D., FRCPath. Professor Marshall, an Ellex board director, is
    currently Frost Professor of Ophthalmology at the Rayne Institute and
    the Academic Department of Ophthalmology at King's College, University
    of London.

    Ellex 2RT is a new non-thermal laser treatment that relies on
    nanosecond pulses of laser energy to stimulate the retinal pigment
    epithelium (RPE) to preserve vision. Laboratory research conducted
    under Professor Marshall over the past few years has demonstrated that
    the Ellex 2RT method causes the RPE to migrate and release matrix
    metalloproteinase (MMP's), which are the enzymes that clean up Bruch's
    membrane. Further laboratory experiments to measure the ability of
    Bruch's membrane to transport water and chemicals have shown the
    entire transport mechanism of the retina has been rejuvenated. Dr.
    Hamilton treated the initial series of patients in London following
    two years of laboratory research funded by Ellex and conducted under
    the direction of Professor Marshall at St. Thomas' Hospital in London,
    UK and Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia.

    "Dr. Hamilton's presentation of Ellex 2RT patient data at the AAO
    marks a milestone for Ellex and Professor Marshall's collaborative
    research program," commented Peter Falzon, Ellex CEO. "We are pleased
    to be working with Professor Marshall and Dr. Hamilton, long-time
    leaders in the field of ophthalmology, to advance the science and
    technology that is enabling Ellex 2RT to emerge as a potential new
    therapy of interest for early AMD and diabetic patients. More research
    is needed and at Ellex we look forward to investigating and reporting
    the benefits of 2RT therapy over time."

    "Ellex 2RT is a candidate therapy for retinal diseases, which are
    caused by a compromised Bruch's membrane resulting in reduced energy
    supply to, and waste removal from, the photoreceptors," commented
    Professor Marshall. "The diseases that can potentially be treated
    include early AMD, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases.
    With Ellex 2RT, there is the potential to treat retinal diseases
    earlier, before irreversible physical changes occur and before
    patients experience significant vision loss."

    The Ellex 2RT prototype laser systems were developed specifically for
    Ellex 2RT laboratory and clinical trials by the Ellex advanced
    research team in Adelaide, Australia. Although there are many types of
    lasers used in ophthalmology, Ellex 2RT therapy parameters are unique
    and can only be performed with an Ellex 2RT laser system. Ellex has
    international patents pending for the Ellex 2RT technology and method.
     
    Irv Arons, Nov 1, 2007
    #1
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