Santen announces global collaboration with Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Ulster University researchers to study and develop novel treatments for glaucoma
Santen, a global company specialising in ophthalmology, is delighted to announce a partnership with scientists from Massachusetts Eye and Ear (USA), a research and teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Ulster University (United Kingdom) to research and develop novel treatments for glaucoma. The aim of this international collaboration is to identify, characterise and develop new and unique treatments for glaucoma. The investigations will focus on how to prevent and reverse damage caused to the optic nerve due to glaucoma by exploring new therapeutic targets in the visual nervous system.
“There are currently no effective treatments for glaucoma that protect the optic nerve cells from degenerating, leading to irreversible vision loss for many glaucoma patients,” said Meredith S Gregory-Ksander, PhD, an associate scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. “Our research aims to determine if targeting a component of the immune system will stop the degeneration of optic nerve cells and help preserve vision in glaucoma patients.”
Glaucoma, which affects approximately 14 million people in Europe, causes damage to the optic nerve.1,2 Damage occurs when drainage of the aqueous humour (a watery fluid that fills the space between cornea and lens and helps maintain normal pressure in the eye) is blocked and therefore the intraocular pressure (IOP) is increased.2 This new collaboration will focus on how to promote healthy activity in retinal cells.
Dr Victoria McGilligan, Lecturer in Personalised Medicine at the Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, Ulster University said, “It is fantastic to have such strong industry interest and of course funding and expertise from an ophthalmology company like Santen, which will undoubtedly speed up the development and progress of this therapeutic antibody. I’m also delighted to be working on this project with Mass Eye and Ear as we are long standing collaborators and their research compliments ours perfectly: they have developed novel glaucoma models which we have then used to successfully test the innovative therapeutic we developed, which is used to penetrate the eye cells to reduce inflammation. Our ultimate collective goal is to offer hope to those at most risk of vision loss.”
“We are proud to be working with scientists at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Ulster University on this exciting partnership,” said Luis Iglesias, President and Head of Santen EMEA. “Santen cares deeply about helping patients from all generations to preserve the precious sense of sight. With 130 years of dedication to ophthalmology, we understand that the journey to preserve sight isn’t always simple. We are passionate about improving eye health by collaborating with trusted partners to make our vision a reality.”
References:
1. Quigley HA et al. Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:262-267
2. Weinreb RN et al. JAMA 2014;311(18):1901-1911
Survey suggests that people living with glaucoma are potentially at increased risk of sight loss and blindness due to COVID-19 pandemic
Results reinforce the importance of continuing eye care routines to maintain good eye health
- Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) people with glaucoma surveyed in the UK say COVID-19 has prevented them from managing their condition as normal during the pandemic1
- Almost a third (29%) people with glaucoma surveyed in the UK who use prescription eye drops to manage their condition, report not using them as frequently as prescribed1
- Inadequate glaucoma treatment can lead to irreversible sight loss and blindness2
People with glaucoma have struggled to access their healthcare treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting them at risk of vision loss and blindness, according to results of a new European survey of 2,010 adults with glaucoma, including 250 UK respondents.* Glaucoma is an eye condition that affects about two per cent of the population over 40 in the UK3 - and is one of the most common causes of blindness globally.4 The survey is part of a multi-channel European awareness campaign to encourage people not to lose sight of their glaucoma and prioritise their eye health during the pandemic.
Over the past 12 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many areas of the healthcare system in the UK, causing delays in diagnosis, an increase in anxiety for patients requiring medical care, and a reduction in medical appointment attendance. Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) surveyed people living with glaucoma in the UK have not been able to manage their condition as normal during the pandemic, with over 1 in 3 (37%) saying that their appointments with medical professionals were cancelled and that no alternatives had been offered to them, likely due to pressures within the NHS due to COVID-19. The pandemic has also shifted people in the UK’s priorities away from picking up their prescriptions, with 27% refraining due to worries about catching COVID-19 and 36% stating that they were too busy. Alarmingly, almost a third (29%) of UK respondents who use prescription eye drops to manage their condition reported not using their medication as frequently as prescribed, putting them at increased risk of sight loss and blindness. The survey also shows that 28% of people with glaucoma surveyed in the UK have been worried or anxious about not being able to manage their condition effectively.
Karen Osborn, Chief Executive Officer of Glaucoma UK, a leading charity helping people living with glaucoma, said: “We know that many people will be doing their very best to maintain their eye health during the COVID-19 pandemic, however the results of this survey highlight that more can be done to support people at this challenging time. Now more than ever, it is important that people with glaucoma keep their medical appointments, collect their prescriptions and use their eye drops as prescribed. Any disruption to care can lead to vision loss and permanent, irreversible blindness. At Glaucoma UK, we are here to support you. We can provide you with advice and guidance, so please visit our website www.glaucoma.uk for more information.”
The survey also shows that patients remain unclear or unaware of the consequences of not effectively managing their condition. Only a third (37%) of UK respondents were aware they are risking blindness if they do not use their medication as prescribed. When asked which factors, if any, could prevent vision loss related to glaucoma, a concerning 43% of respondents did not think that using prescribed medication as directed by their doctor could and more than half (56%) did not think having regular check-ups with their doctor prevent vision loss related to glaucoma, highlighting a potential gap in awareness and understanding amongst people with the condition in the UK.
Professor Philip Bloom Consultant Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma UK Chair of Trustees said, “Glaucoma is a condition that if untreated may damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye. It is a slow progressing disease, but it is imperative for people living with glaucoma to take necessary action now to mitigate issues in the future.”
Those living with glaucoma who wish to find out more about their condition or find out how they can access the resources they need can visit https://glaucoma.uk/.
*The survey was conducted in the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Finland, Norway, and Russia
References
The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, with a sample of 2,010 Europeans with glaucoma (Aged 18+), between 19.01.2021 - 05.02.2021 including 250 respondents with glaucoma in the UK.
- Santen data on file
- Glaucoma UK. About Glaucoma. 2021. Link: https://glaucoma.uk/about-glaucoma/. Last accessed Feb 2021.
- Glaucoma UK. Glaucoma Guide. 2021. Link: https://glaucoma.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/3000_GlaucomaUK_PatientLeaflet_A5_GlaucomaAGuide_Web.pdf. Last accessed Feb 2021.
- NHS. Moorfield Eye Hospital. Glaucoma. 2021. Link: https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/condition/glaucoma Last accessed Feb 2021.
Glaucoma UK and Santen UK partner to tackle one of the major challenges in glaucoma therapy, patient adherence to medication
14 December 2020 – St Albans, UK – Santen UK, the global specialist company in ophthalmology, announces the launch of the Glaucoma Adherence Toolkit, in collaboration with the charity Glaucoma UK. The toolkit features a host of educational resources designed to support healthcare professionals in empowering people living with glaucoma to form positive habits around medication adherence, leading to effective long-term management of the condition.
The toolkit contains the ‘My Personal Glaucoma Monitoring Record’ (or also known as the ‘Orange Book’), a personal monitoring record for people with glaucoma or those at risk of developing the condition. The record contains insights and tips, and space to record all the information needed to help people living with glaucoma – and healthcare professionals working with them – to monitor and manage their condition. In addition, a Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited module, ‘The Ideas, Concerns, Expectations (ICE)’ training is also available part of the toolkit. The ICE approach provides healthcare professionals with a framework, applicable for everyday practice in the clinics to improve patient consultations and overall treatment outcomes.
In the UK, glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable vision loss and affects around 700,000 people. Medical treatment of glaucoma using eye drops is the most common form of initial treatment and requires good adherence. However, adherence to medication has been shown to be poor, whereby almost 50% of people living with glaucoma may discontinue treatment within six months of starting therapy.
“Good adherence to glaucoma treatment plays an essential role in helping patients preserve their sight, but remains an ongoing challenge for patients and professionals alike,” said Karen Osborn, Chief Executive, Glaucoma UK. “We are therefore delighted to have worked alongside Santen UK and a multi-disciplinary team of leading experts to develop new resources for healthcare professionals that will help their patients adopt strategies for incorporating medication administration into daily activities.”
The materials were developed in close collaboration with people living with glaucoma and health professionals working in glaucoma clinics around the UK, which was evaluated in a real world setting in five ophthalmology clinics across the country.
“By empowering people on intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering eye drops to achieve good adherence from the very start, we can help them maintain their sight and enjoy a good quality of visual health for longer,” said Karl Mercieca, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. “We hope to increase education and awareness around the importance of self-management and shared decision-making about treatments that can improve adherence to treatment that can prevent avoidable visual loss.”
***
About Glaucoma UK
Glaucoma UK is a charity for people with glaucoma. We’re here for people with glaucoma and their loved ones. We campaign to raise awareness so glaucoma is detected early and can be treated, we support people to live well with glaucoma and we fund sight-saving research.
We are a membership organisation, and those living with glaucoma are at the very heart of all we do. We support people to live well with glaucoma by providing a telephone helpline, glaucoma support groups, peer support services and widely acclaimed information booklets.
For more information, please visit our website www.glaucoma.uk.
Glaucoma helpline: 01233 64 81 70 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am–5.00pm).
About Santen
As a specialised company dedicated to the ophthalmology field, Santen carries out research, development, marketing, and sales of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products and devices. Santen has long been the market leader in Japan for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and is now a leader in the sector in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. With scientific knowledge and organisational capabilities nurtured over 130 years, Santen products and services now reach over 60 countries, contributing to the well-being of patients, their loved ones and consequently to society. For more information, please visit www.santen.uk.
***
REFERENCES
i Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth). 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/RCOphth-The-Way-Forward-Glaucoma-300117.pdf> [Accessed 22 October 2020].
ii Tse, A., Shah, M., Jamal, N. and Shaikh, A., 2016. Glaucoma treatment adherence at a United Kingdom general practice. Eye, 30(8), pp.1118-1122
iii Bansal RK et al. J Current Glaucoma Practice. 2007; 1: 22-25
Santen celebrates 130 years of protecting the power of sight
With a proud history dating back to 1890, Santen – a leading global ophthalmology pharmaceutical company dedicated to eye care – is 130 years old. We have grown from a single private firm in Osaka, Japan, to providing medical and surgical treatments that have benefited over 30 million people across 60 countries worldwide.
For 130 years, Santen has been a trusted and respected partner in ophthalmic health. Our heritage gives us the incomparable expertise and resources to explore advances in ophthalmology, including rare diseases, under-resourced areas and innovative technologies.
We are passionate about improving and protecting vision and are committed to delivering on this promise. We embrace change and are constantly evolving to assess and respond to patients’ needs around the world to bring benefits, beyond our product and surgical offering, to ophthalmology patients, their loved ones and society.
As we look to the future, we remain confident and dedicated to our mission to preserve sight and our continued collaboration with the global ophthalmology community.
Santen joins forces with ophthalmologists in the fight against antibiotic resistance
Santen is delighted to announce the launch of the Re-SOLVE Antibiotic Resistance initiative, which aims to lead the way in the fight against antibiotic resistance in ophthalmology. The initiative will promote and encourage good antibiotic stewardship – a set of actions for the sustainable and effective use of antibiotics – by amplifying the expert voices of physicians, activists and organisations about this global health priority. Antimicrobial resistant infections currently cause 50,000 deaths per year in Europe and the USA, as of 2014.1 Ophthalmologists play a critical role in managing this issue since 97% use antibiotics prophylactically for 4.5 million cataract surgeries that take place every year in EU and member states, as of 2016.2,3
“Antibiotic resistance develops naturally through gene mutations. However, overuse and misuse of antibiotics has accelerated this problem. We can help to manage this issue by selecting a prophylactic therapy following cataract surgery with the minimum duration, that kills the likely known pathogens and provides appropriate prophylactic rather than therapeutic doses,” said Mr Ali Mearza, Ophthalmic Consultants of London & Imperial College NHS Trust, UK.
If antibiotic stewardship does not improve, antimicrobial resistance could cause 10 million deaths by 2050.1 The issue is growing due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which is further exacerbated by exposure to long courses of treatment.4
By raising awareness of the important role of ophthalmologists in mitigating this global health issue, Santen hopes to empower them to actively take steps to ensure the sustainable use of antibiotics by:
- Limiting antibiotic exposure by prescribing the shortest duration of therapy5
- Covering the most likely known pathogens with empiric treatment6
- Efficiently and rapidly eliminating the pathogen to reduce the risk of resistance developing, i.e. high microbial eradication6
“It’s no secret that increased exposure to antibiotics is contributing to increasing resistance of infectious pathogens,” said Luis Iglesias, President and Head of Santen EMEA. “As a trusted specialist, Santen is committed to collaborating with the healthcare community to enact positive change in the fight against antibiotic resistance.”
References:
- Review on antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations (2014). Available here: https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/AMR%20Review%20Paper%20-%20Tackling%20a%20crisis%20for%20the%20health%20and%20wealth%20of%20nations_1.pdf Last accessed October 2020
- Eurostat. Cataract surgery: how countries compare. Available here: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20190108-1 Last accessed October 2020
- Haripriya A. er al. Indian J Ophthalmol 2017; 65 (12): 1390-95
- World Health Organisation (WHO) 2015. Worldwide country situation analysis: Response to antimicrobial resistance. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/163468/9789241564946_eng.pdf;jsessionid=C58A77657952C274ADAEFA4D71D37C5D?sequence=1 Last accessed October 2020
- Wilson HL. Aust Prescr 2019; 42(1): 5-9
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Focal points. Antibiotic use in corneal and external eye infections (2011). Available here: https://store.aao.org/focal-points-2011-module-antibiotic-use-in-corneal-and-external-eye-infections.html Last accessed October 2020
The Santen EMEA team expresses their ‘Hope in Sight’ for World Sight Day 2020
Santen EMEA is proud to support World Sight Day (WSD) 2020, an annual initiative led by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IABP), which aims to raise awareness of the causes of avoidable vision impairment and blindness.
At least 2.2 billion people are living with vision impairment, of which approximately 1 billion have a condition that requires treatment or could have been prevented.1 In addition, vast geographical inequities exist, for example, the prevalence of distance vision impairment is four times higher in many low and middle income regions around the world than in high income regions.2 That’s why this year’s WSD theme is ‘Hope in Sight’. The theme is a pledge to educate and encourage people around the world, particularly those most at risk, to have an eye examination as the first step towards preventing blindness.
As a pharmaceutical company, specialising in ophthalmology and with a proud heritage of 130 years, Santen marks WSD 2020 with hope for the future of ophthalmology. We remain committed to our mission to preserve the precious sense of sight and to eliminate avoidable sight loss. By exploring the latest technology and therapeutic advances, including gene therapy and artificial intelligence, we hope to better respond to the eye health needs of people from all generations across the world.
References
- World Health Organisation. World report on vision (2019). Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-vision Last accessed: October 2020
- World Health Organisation. Blindness and vision impairment (2019). Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment Last accessed: October 2020
Santen’s long-term vision introduced in new annual report, available now
Santen is proud to release its annual Santen Report 2020 to mark the end of fiscal year 2019 and introduce its new long-term strategy, Santen 2030.
Santen 2030: Happiness with Vision
While recent advances in ophthalmology have helped to improve vision for many people, eye conditions causing life-altering sight loss or blindness are widespread.1 With a growing and ageing population, and additional contributing factors such as increased screen-time due to COVID-19 restrictions, global projections demonstrate that visual impairment is on the rise.1
In the face of these challenges, the Santen Report 2020 showcases the organisation’s journey over the last decade as well as its plans to continue to address the evolving needs of people living with ocular diseases.
Under the new Santen 2030 strategy, Santen aims to become a “social innovator” in order to provide products and services beyond pharmaceuticals. By putting patients at the heart, the approach will allow the organisation to further explore developing technologies, such as regenerative therapy and artificial intelligence. It will also enable Santen to build on existing collaborations with trusted partners, such as jCyte, Verily and the ITU, and create new opportunities. Ultimately, the goal is to deliver “Happiness with Vision” – a life with the best vision experience for every individual around the world.
Santen’s expansion to drive global success
The report also covers the progress made to date as part of Santen’s existing strategy, Vision 2020. Initiated in 2010, Vision 2020 focused on the company’s 10-year goal to become a specialised pharmaceutical company with a global presence by the end of 2020. Through leveraging Santen’s respected leadership position in Japan, the organisation has expanded its presence in China, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and the Americas.
In the past 10 years, the number of countries where Santen products are available has increased from approximately 35 in 2010 to more than 60 today – benefitting 30 million patients worldwide. In addition, of over 4,000 employees at Santen, more than half are based outside of Japan. The EMEA business has particularly played a critical role in realising this vision so far. In EMEA alone, local Santen operations are becoming leaders in ophthalmology, including Finland and Norway after achieving nearly 50% market share for dry eye and glaucoma medicines, respectively. The region was also first to introduce PRESERFLO™ MicroShunt and xact Mono-EDoF intraocular lens, for glaucoma and cataract procedures.
As Santen draws closer to the end of Vision 2020, the company looks forward to Santen 2030 to continue the organisation’s current trajectory of success and growth, while adapting to the changing ophthalmology landscape.
Reference
- World Health Organisation. World report on vision. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-vision Last accessed: October 2020
Test news
Test news article content
