4 ms·

I'm more interested in UNR844-Cl (by Novartis). It appears that it has longer lasting, possibly age-correcting, effects. "This prodrug is topically instilled b

by Malic 5y ago

I'm more interested in UNR844-Cl (by Novartis). It appears that it has longer lasting, possibly age-correcting, effects. "This prodrug is topically instilled binocularly, whereupon it penetrates the cornea and degrades into two naturally occurring substances, lipoic acid and choline. The lipoic acid is then hydrolyzed by esterase in the tear film into dihydrolipoic acid, which destroys the disulfide bonds in the lens, improving flexibility as noted earlier. An interesting hypothesis regarding this medication is that it may potentially halt or even reverse the natural lens hardening that occurs with age, thereby allowing a potential restoration of natural accommodation." Source - https://modernod.com/articles/2020-sept/coming-soon-presbyopia-correcting-eye-drops https://modernod.com/articles/2020-sept/coming-soon-presbyop...

BurningFrog 5y ago
> This prodrug is topically instilled binocularly Can anyone translate?
- germinalphrase 5y ago
  Eyedropper into both eyes?
  - Malic 5y ago
    Yup. Twice a day, results show up somewhere before 90 days, ceasing treatment after point appears to continue to provide results. "In phase 1 and 2 studies, UNR844 exhibited a good safety profile and there were no treatment-related study discontinuations. In addition, all patients showed substantial near visual acuity improvements by day 15.3,4 By day 91, 82% of patients had 20/40 or better near vision and 36% had 20/25 or better near vision. Novartis expects the drop to be labeled for use twice daily for approximately 90 days. The effects of this dosing regimen have been found to last up to 7 months without further dosing. " https://modernod.com/articles/2020-sept/coming-soon-presbyopia-correcting-eye-drops https://modernod.com/articles/2020-sept/coming-soon-presbyop... Article mentions a marketing file year of 2021 but I have read that they did a Phase IIa trial that should finish in 2022 (2023? Can't find the citation ATM)
- bavent 5y ago
  It’s put on your eyeballs, both of them.
  - BurningFrog 5y ago
    prodrug: "a biologically inactive compound which can be metabolized in the body to produce a drug."
melling 5y ago
is the loss of flexibility caused by hardening of proteins? is this the same or similar to what causes cataracts?
- the_d3f4ult 5y ago
  yes
- gardaani 5y ago
  Do you mean nuclear sclerosis? This explains it well: https://www.healthline.com/health/nuclear-sclerosis https://www.healthline.com/health/nuclear-sclerosis The solutions would be to get the protein fibers sorted out. But how?
wallaBBB 5y ago
This is the second attempt of this kind at tackling aging of the lens by Novartis (formerly Alcon). Unfortunately previous drug (some 10ish years ago) got pulled off the market after studies couldn't confirm the claims - basically it did nothing. Hopefully this time it works, because this is the only real solution, and not pupil size manipulation.
- the_d3f4ult 5y ago
  Not the only real solution. Maybe the only pharmacologic solution, but it's only a matter of time before someone hits the nail on the head with an accommodating IOL.
  - wallaBBB 5y ago
    Considering how often a mistake is made at calculation the patient's lens even for the standard monofocals, I would not expect it to be a solution around the corner. And really it's not always your doctor's fault. Formulas are empirical, and it is more difficult for post-LASIK patients, as the standard formulas are not that good for them, and specialized ones are still maturing. And this is not including various complications in cataracts that could easily make you ineligible for progressives.
- phkahler 5y ago
  >> Hopefully this time it works, because this is the only real solution, and not pupil size manipulation. My optometrist told me something I had a hard time believing. He said there are progressive lenses you can get with cataract surgery. I still can't believe that. This came up after talking about the long term problems with lasik. I said what if I just got cataract surgery now? I still can't believe they can do progressives.
  - tenken 5y ago
    Do you mean progressive inter ocular lens? Or like progressive lens (glasses)?
loceng 5y ago
There's a stromal stem cell treatment that's been developed, went through very successful human clinical trials, and so will likely become standard practice for everyone to heal age related degeneration; it won't be a daily use, recurring monthly revenue stream however, so pharma industry isn't going to push it.
- Retric 5y ago
  Even once a lifetime treatments like vaccines represent a significant customer base as new people are born every year. The reality is stem cells alone don’t fix aging, stuff like rates of cancer more inherent than can be cured by such things. Stem cells might possibly slow or reverse bone deterioration etc which would be a massive boon, but this stuff isn’t easy or risk free.
interestica 5y ago
Interestingly, one treatment for the degenerative eye disorder keratoconus aims to stiffen the cornea (corneal crosslinking) through drops+surgery.
- the_d3f4ult 5y ago
  The cornea and the lens are different anatomical entities.

by Malic 5y ago

BurningFrog 5y ago

> This prodrug is topically instilled binocularly Can anyone translate?

germinalphrase 5y ago
Eyedropper into both eyes?
- Malic 5y ago
  Yup. Twice a day, results show up somewhere before 90 days, ceasing treatment after point appears to continue to provide results. "In phase 1 and 2 studies, UNR844 exhibited a good safety profile and there were no treatment-related study discontinuations. In addition, all patients showed substantial near visual acuity improvements by day 15.3,4 By day 91, 82% of patients had 20/40 or better near vision and 36% had 20/25 or better near vision. Novartis expects the drop to be labeled for use twice daily for approximately 90 days. The effects of this dosing regimen have been found to last up to 7 months without further dosing. " https://modernod.com/articles/2020-sept/coming-soon-presbyopia-correcting-eye-drops https://modernod.com/articles/2020-sept/coming-soon-presbyop... Article mentions a marketing file year of 2021 but I have read that they did a Phase IIa trial that should finish in 2022 (2023? Can't find the citation ATM)
bavent 5y ago
It’s put on your eyeballs, both of them.
- BurningFrog 5y ago
  prodrug: "a biologically inactive compound which can be metabolized in the body to produce a drug."

melling 5y ago

is the loss of flexibility caused by hardening of proteins? is this the same or similar to what causes cataracts?

the_d3f4ult 5y ago
yes
gardaani 5y ago
Do you mean nuclear sclerosis? This explains it well: https://www.healthline.com/health/nuclear-sclerosis https://www.healthline.com/health/nuclear-sclerosis The solutions would be to get the protein fibers sorted out. But how?

wallaBBB 5y ago

This is the second attempt of this kind at tackling aging of the lens by Novartis (formerly Alcon). Unfortunately previous drug (some 10ish years ago) got pulled off the market after studies couldn't confirm the claims - basically it did nothing. Hopefully this time it works, because this is the only real solution, and not pupil size manipulation.

the_d3f4ult 5y ago
Not the only real solution. Maybe the only pharmacologic solution, but it's only a matter of time before someone hits the nail on the head with an accommodating IOL.
- wallaBBB 5y ago
  Considering how often a mistake is made at calculation the patient's lens even for the standard monofocals, I would not expect it to be a solution around the corner. And really it's not always your doctor's fault. Formulas are empirical, and it is more difficult for post-LASIK patients, as the standard formulas are not that good for them, and specialized ones are still maturing. And this is not including various complications in cataracts that could easily make you ineligible for progressives.
phkahler 5y ago
>> Hopefully this time it works, because this is the only real solution, and not pupil size manipulation. My optometrist told me something I had a hard time believing. He said there are progressive lenses you can get with cataract surgery. I still can't believe that. This came up after talking about the long term problems with lasik. I said what if I just got cataract surgery now? I still can't believe they can do progressives.
- tenken 5y ago
  Do you mean progressive inter ocular lens? Or like progressive lens (glasses)?

loceng 5y ago

There's a stromal stem cell treatment that's been developed, went through very successful human clinical trials, and so will likely become standard practice for everyone to heal age related degeneration; it won't be a daily use, recurring monthly revenue stream however, so pharma industry isn't going to push it.

Retric 5y ago
Even once a lifetime treatments like vaccines represent a significant customer base as new people are born every year. The reality is stem cells alone don’t fix aging, stuff like rates of cancer more inherent than can be cured by such things. Stem cells might possibly slow or reverse bone deterioration etc which would be a massive boon, but this stuff isn’t easy or risk free.

interestica 5y ago

Interestingly, one treatment for the degenerative eye disorder keratoconus aims to stiffen the cornea (corneal crosslinking) through drops+surgery.

the_d3f4ult 5y ago
The cornea and the lens are different anatomical entities.