News and Views

A group of leading biotechnology entrepreneurs and investors have co-authored a letter to the Times to highlight the promising future for the industry.

One of the co-signatories is Andy Richards, Chairman of Altacor.

The letter reads

Sir,

As innovators, entrepreneurs and investors in the life sciences we welcome the Government’s support for this high-growth sector. Our industry comprises more than 5,000 companies employing more than 70,000 people and with a combined value of more than £50 billion in market cap. We believe the UK has the research base, entrepreneurial skills and venture finance necessary to be a leading hub of global biomedicine. Many of the world’s drugs, devices and diagnostics have been discovered here.

Dry itchy eyes is frequently it is the reason why patients give up using their contact lenses. To help opticians diagnose dry eye quickly and more accurately, Altacor, the ophthalmic products specialists, and No7 the contact lenses manufacturer have collaborated on a trial and the initial results have been very positive.

Andrew Merry Optometrists were one of the first to join the trial in which self-contained dry eye diagnostic kits were provided free of charge by Altacor and No7, and the opticians were trained in how to use them.

Janet Wilkinson of Andrew Merry Optometrists says:

“The trial went extremely well. People often come in saying they have itchy eyes or a burning sensation and are thinking of stopping wearing their contact lenses. Others think they need a new prescription because their vision is starting to blur.

“Normally we would ask a few questions and then recommend eye drops, but we wouldn’t always be able to do any specific tests as appointment time can be limited.

“In the trial, we assessed everyone that complained of dry eye. The kits contained a Lissamine green stain which we can use to examine the eye and look at tear break-up time.”

The diagnostic kit was developed by Altacor and No7 following consultation with opticians. It provides everything needed in one box and issufficient for testing 10 patients. It helps to identify what type of eye treatment will be most effective.

For more information see the video

Cambridge-based Altacor, a specialist ophthalmic products company, has welcomed an agreement with NicOx S.A.  Under the terms of the agreement NicOx is investing £2 million in cash to acquire an initial 11.8% stake in Altacor with an option to acquire the remainder of the company for up to a further £17.5m which comprises £9m upfront and £8.5m in deferred milestones.

Altacor was established in 2007 by Dr Fran Crawford and Mr David Alcraft to develop and market a range of high quality treatments for ocular conditions such as glaucoma, eye infection and dry eye.  It has products, pipeline and relationships in place and will advance this significantly following the agreement with NicOx.

Dr Fran Crawford, CEO of Altacor, said: “Altacor and NicOx have developed a strong working relationship. The companies are strategically well aligned, both having similar perspectives on the emerging ophthalmology market.

“We therefore believe NicOx is an excellent partner for Altacor and the investment announced today will enable us to secure the development of the portfolio. NicOx’s R&D and partnering expertise will be of significant benefit as we progress our late-stage pipeline.”

more

Altacor will be attending the North of England Ophthalmological Society (NEOS) meeting, Bradford on the 20th March. The theme is vitreoretinal and the PJ Hay Lecture will be given by Mr Tom Williamson, consultant Ophthalmologist at St Thomas' Hospital London.

It looks a varied and interesting range of presentations and we look forward  to seeing you there.

If you are unable to attend the event and would like to gain more information about our prescription range of Clinitas treatments for dry eye please contact: David Harris, our  Altacor representative on 01223 421411

Eye drops can provide relief from dry eye symptoms.  These eye drops contain 'tear substitutes' which mimic the protective properties of tears.  You may need to reapply the eye drops several times a day and this is where Clinitas Soothe can help.

Clinitas Soothe is unique in that its supplied in an easy to use, sterile, resealable dropper that can be slipped into a pocket or handbag.  Each container holds about 8 drops which is sufficient for one day's use. It can be recapped and can be used for up to 12 hours.

Clinitas Soothe is suitable for regular use as it is preservative-free.  Eye drops with preservatives can sometimes irritate the eye and are not suitable for use with soft contact lenses.

Altacor works closely with eye specialists and has developed a range of dry eye products which covers all the main causes of the condition.  Each of these products helps restore the natural moisture of the eye to bring fast relief through different mechanisms

Clinitas is available over the counter from opticians and pharmacists, including Boots and also on prescription.  It is advised to consult a health professional when selecting eye drops.

Comedian Tim Vine won joke of the year award at the annual Lafta awards this month, but those of us who think that having sore eyes is a far from a laughing matter might appreciate some of his older jokes.

Mr Vine, who is the brother of BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy, has won the award for the best joke at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010 with the line: “I’ve just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I’ll tell you what, never again.”

And he was also runner-up in for the Edinburgh joke of the year last year with the line:

“Crime in multi-storey car parks. That is wrong on so many different levels.”

If you want relief from sore eyes try some Clinitas soothe but to find out more about the Lafta awards see.

Watery eyes, particularly in windy, sunny or dry conditions, can be a symptom of ‘dry eye’ and can also be triggered by many medical conditions and taking certain medications.

Gareth Thomas, Head of Sales and Marketing at Altacor, says: “Lubrication of the eye is very sophisticated. The eye is bathed in a film of tears every time you blink. This film has a watery inside contained by an oily outside layer to reduce evaporation, and a lubricant on the innermost layer nearest the eye ball. These delicate layers can easily be disrupted by medication, including the contraceptive pill.”

The characteristic symptom of ‘dry eye’ is scratchy or itchy feeling eyes that look red rimmed. However, the eye can also over compensate resulting in watery eyes. This makes the condition difficult to recognise despite being very easy to treat.

“Insufficient tear volume is the route of the problem, which is why people experience an uncomfortable dry feeling. In many cases the body compensates for the low volume by over-producing tears, which leads to streaming eyes,” Gareth explains.

The specialist ophthalmic-products company has developed a range of products to overcome the problem, including Clinitas Hydrate which can be used overnight to restore the water balance of the tears.

Eloise, mum of two and Housekeeping and Maintenance Manager for a prestigious hotel, found that dry eye was having a major impact on her quality of life:

“It got to the stage where I would put on sunglasses and close my eyes to walk from the house to the car in an attempt to stop my eyes from watering. But still my glove box was full of tissues and I couldn’t use the car’s heating or open the window – any change would make the tears begin. The skin around my eyes was cracked which was very painful and people would often ask what was wrong.

“Before I found out about Clinitas I thought I had tried everything I could – eye drops, sprays, gels, you name it. But none of it worked.”

Eloise got relief from Clinitas Hydrate which adds volume to the tear layer, by holding up to six times its own volume in moisture, so treats the cause of dry eye, not just the symptoms. Its soothing effect lasts for up to six hours, so use before bedtime can help with a good night’s sleep.

People with diabetes are more prone to dry eyes. If your eyes feel tired, sore or gritty or sandy, you may have 'dry eyes', or 'blepharitis', or both.

The eyelids have tiny glands in them, especially the lower lids. These glands make substances that mix with tears, and help the tears to spread across the eye. This thin layer of tears lubricates the eyes, stops them drying out, and keeps them comfortable. However, as you get older, and particularly if you have dry skin, these glands can block. As a result the glands do not make the chemicals that enables the tears to  spread evenly across the front of the eye. The tears break up and dry patches develop on the surface of the eye which makes them feel sore.

Dry eyes is a common problem for diabetics. The eyes may feel scratchy or gritty, as though there is something in them. They also be a little itchy or feel as though they are burning, with crusting, as though there is something in them (foreign body sensation). Additionally, your lashes may crust up and your eye lids may stick.

Blepharitis is the medical term for inflamed eyelids. The inflammation is like eczema of the skin, with red, scaly eyelids. This makes the eyes feel tired and particularly uncomfortable in sunlight or a smoky atmosphere. They may also be slightly red.

Blepharitis is not usually a serious condition but it is always wise to consult a doctor.  Some simple eye care such as cleaning the eye lids or replacing the tears with a lubricant such as Clinitas Soothe can make the eyes feel more comfortable.

A useful animation which explains this is available on this NHS hospital site.

Aine Campbell from Cardiff University was the delighted winner of a Wii Sport and Accessories at the National AOP Student Eye Opener Conference. The prize was donated by Altacor.

Karen Sparrow, Education Adviser for the AOP said that the prizes were presented at the close of the conference which was a nice way to end a memorable and successful event.

Full details of the conference will be available in the next issue of OT magazine.

Dry eye is a term used for a variety of tear film disorders that result in the inadequate wetting of the eye.

The characteristic symptom of ‘dry eye’ is scratchy or itchy feeling eyes that look red rimmed. However, some tear film disorders can actually result in watery eyes because the eye tries to compensate for the damage caused to it’s surface layer.

Hormones stimulate the production of tears and so hormonal changes associated with the menopause can be a risk factor for dry eye. As we age, we also produce fewer tears, which may explain why dry-eye is particularly common amongst older women.

Several medicines are associated with dry eye including antihistamines, antidepressants and some drugs used to treat high blood pressure. Using Clinitas eye-drops alongside these treatments can therefore be of great benefit. Other risk factors for dry-eye include recent laser surgery and medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Some nurses have reported that dry eye is one of the side-effects that patients often find sufficiently distressing to stop taking their medication.  Clinitas is also available on prescription so if you are on medication and experiencing dry eye it would be worth discussing this with your GP.

A further product specialist has joined the Altacor team. Alison Jones started her career as a nurse, gaining promotion to the hospital management team before leaving to join Astra Zeneca.

Her experience of working with consultants and Primary Care Trusts has given Alison useful insights into this demanding environment and of the need for cost-effective prescription products.

Alison says that Clinitas has a positive reception from the medical profession .

"I was attracted to Altacor because it is a small, successful and innovative company and I think there is enormous market potential for the Clinitas product. Many of the doctors and nurses I have been talking to are aware of its benefits so the challenge is to widen knowledge among the non-ophthalmic specialists.

"Clinitas is now being included on the formulary of Hospitals and PCTs across the country as it becoming recognised as a very good option for patients with dry-eye and is very cost-effective.

Cambridge News journalist Mike Scialom had suffered for years from dry eye brought on, in part, by air conditioning and too much time at the computer screen. This gave him a special interest in talking to Gareth Thomas, Sales and Marketing Manager of Altacor about the science behind Clinitas and he was keen to test it out.

News story

Ceri Myles has joined the team to help drive awareness of its Clinitas dry-eye treatment products with Hospital Consultants and Primary Care Trusts in the South East.

Ceri was previously at Wyeth where she was a Clinical Meetings Manager in Transplantation, Haemophilia and Anti Infectives.

She says that Clinitas is popular with consultants:

"Clinicians are keen to use the product and I am working to gain formulary inclusion within the hospitals. Altacor has exciting products in the pipeline and I am looking forward to being part of its success."

It's great to have you onboard Ceri.

If you may sometimes suffer from tired eyes with a gritty or itching sensation, then you may suffer from ‘dry eye’, a common problem for computer-users.

Good eye hygiene as described below will help prevent dry eye syndrome and the associated condition of blepharitis, which is inflammation (redness and swelling) of the rims of the eyelids.

• Wet a cloth with warm water and hold it against your closed eyes for five to ten minutes. The heat warms up the tiny eyelid glands which release a mucus-like fluid and make it flow more easily. The cleansing action decreases the number of bacteria that break down the oil.

• Massage your eyes by gently rolling your first finger over them in a circular motion – this helps draw the oil out of the glands.

• Gently clean your eyelids using cotton wool and cooled boiled water – a cotton bud can also be used to clean your upper and lower eyelid and remove any crustiness.

• When using a computer try to look away from the screen at regular intervals.

• Use a humidifier and reduce the use of fans in hot, dry environments.

• Consider use of a gentle tear replacement fluid, such as one of the Clinitas products, to provide more moisture and lubrication for the surface of your eye to bring relief, looking for a preservative free solution (such as Clinitas Soothe) would also be beneficial.

When Graham Colbourne retired he was determined not to let a chronic dry-eye condition get in the way of doing more of the things he enjoyed. With a zest to live life to the full, he particularly wanted to spend more time developing his love of painting at his home in Dudley.

However, in recent years Graham's suffering had become markedly worse. He takes up the story: "I have had severe dry-eye for 20 years and am under the care of the eye surgeon at the local hospital.

Aged 11, I lost an eye in a golfing accident and strangely the dryness in the socket around my prosthetic eye is worse than the pain I experience in my normal eye”.

"In the last few years the pain has been just too much to bear. I had even been going to bed at 8pm just to close my eyes, rest and get some relief the only way that I could. Naturally this had a huge impact on everyday life”.

"I must have tried every product on the market. Typically some of them worked for a short time but none brought the long-lasting comfort that I so desperately craved. Then, in autumn 2009, my wife read about Clinitas Soothe® eye drops in Saga magazine. To my delight, it brought rapid relief, taking away the pain and dryness. And, most importantly, the eye drops have kept on working for me. Now I receive it on prescription and use the handy daily dose vials regularly.

"My world has changed and all for the better. I would heartily recommend anyone suffering from dry-eye to give Clinitas Soothe® a try. The best thing is feeling as if I can live normally again, properly pursue my passion for painting and get on with all the things that make life worthwhile."

About Clinitas Soothe

Clinitas Soothe is a natural, preservative-free eye drop with 0.4% of a natural lubricant, sodium hyaluronate, the highest available concentration for an eye drop. Its unique formulation is dual acting, increasing and stabilising the tear film that coats, nourishes and protects the eye. Available in sterile, re-sealable containers that are safe, convenient and easy to use, it provides immediate relief; stays in the eye for long-lasting comfort; is non-toxic; and is suitable for contact lens wearers.

Available in larger Boots stores, Vision Express, high street pharmacies and selected opticians, Clinitas Soothe® has an RRP of £6.49 for 20 x 0.5ml doses. It is also available as Clinitas® on prescription. It can be ordered online at www.clinitas.info or by calling 01223 421410.

Clinitas Soothe® is a registered trademark of Altacor Ltd.

Clinitas Hydrate®, a high-performance liquid gel drop is set to hit UK stores with new packaging and a promise to bring rapid long-lasting relief from the discomfort of irritable dry eyes by boosting the tear film to keep eyes moist.

Formulated for everyday use, the liquid gel spreads rapidly on contact to quickly coat the whole eye surface, giving fast relief from symptoms. Safe, non-toxic and easy to apply, it is particularly effective for use overnight or first thing in the morning. Usually one drop is applied three to five times a day into the eye.

The new Clinitas Hydrate pack has a striking pink and blue design that will make it easier to spot in stores. Each pack contains a handy 10g tube of the transparent, sterile eye gel that can be used for up to 28 days.

Stockists include Vision Express, select Specsavers outlets, high street pharmacies and optical outlets. Clinitas Hydrate has an RRP of £4.08 for a 10g pack (€5.74 in Republic of Ireland).

Dry, irritable eyes are at best annoying, at worst debilitating and can play havoc with everyday life. Symptoms can include gritty, itchy, stinging sensations; persistent discomfort; occasional blurred vision; and watery eyes. Discomfort can occur for many reasons and be caused by anything that affects the normal production of tears. Aggravating factors include lifestyle, age, gender and health.

In air-conditioned and centrally heated places such as offices and aeroplanes, tears evaporate more quickly, drying the eye. Exposed, windy or dusty locations, such as construction sites, have a similar drying effect. Symptoms can be triggered by certain medical conditions and medical treatments such as HRT and anti-histamines, or related to the onset of the menopause.

Clinitas Hydrate contains a specialist polymer formulated to boost the tear film. Although Clinitas Hydrate can't be applied while contact lenses are in place, lenses can be inserted 15 minutes after use or following use overnight.

In addition to high street stockists, Clinitas Hydrate can be ordered online at www.clinitas.info or by calling: 01223 421410 in the UK; or +353 180 68656 in the Republic of Ireland.

The science behind Clinitas Hydrate
Clinitas Hydrate contains 0.2% Carbomer, sorbitol, sodium hydroxide, cetrimide, sodium edetate and water. Several clinical studies validate the restorative effect that it can have and its potential to improve the quality of life for dry-eye sufferers.

Clinitas Hydrate is part of the Clinitas® range of specialist eye products from Altacor Ltd, a Cambridge-based UK company. Clinitas, a sister product was accepted onto the NHS Drug Tariff in September 2008 and can be prescribed by doctors. Other products in the range include Clinitas Soothe® preservative free daily eye drops and Clinitas Ultra 3® triple action eye drops.

Clinitas®, Clinitas Hydrate®, Clinitas Soothe® and Clinitas Ultra 3® are registered trademarks of Altacor Ltd.