Press & Media January 2010

Seeking Alpha, 18th October 2009

Subject: Avastin/Lucentis comparison trial - Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and the VA Boston Healthcare System discovered there was no difference in efficacy between Genentech's (now Roche's (RHHBY.PK)) Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Ranibizumab (Lucentis) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration after six months

Link: http://seekingalpha.com/article/167142-little-difference-between-roche-s-avastin-and-lucentis-for-macular-degeneration

Medical Research Council, 28th October 2009

Subject: The MRC has awarded approximately £5 million towards studies addressing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The projects involves both UK and US research teams, and have been funded as part of an international collaboration between the Medical Research Council and the Californian Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

Link: http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Newspublications/News/MRC006435

ABC News, 11th November 2009

Subject: Laser treatment - A new type of laser developed by a South Australian company delivers a nano-second dose of energy into the eye and the treatment takes about 10 minutes.  The trial of the laser at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne will eventually involve 50 patients

Link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/11/2740240.htm?section=justin

 The Independent, 20th November 2009

Subject: US company, ACT (Advanced Cell Technology), applying to the FDA to commence trails of stem cells on Stargardts patients

Link: http://news.independentminds.livejournal.com/4875742.html

Express.co.uk, 21st November 2009

Subject: Plan to start human ­trials of stem cell treatment next year, using stem cells taken from spare embryos left over from IVF treatment

Link: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/141571/Blindness-cure-could-save-sight-of-millions

Sky News, 21st November 2009

Subject: Brachytherapy - British surgeons pioneering a technique that uses pinpoint beams of radiation to restore eyesight. The therapy kills abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eye that cause macular degeneration

Link: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Brachytherapy-Blindness-Treatment-Radiation-Used-By-Doctors-To-Combat-Macular-Degeneration/Article/200911315458046?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15458046_Brachytherapy_Blindness_Treatment%3A_Radiation_Used_By_Doctors_To_Combat_Macular_Degeneration

Telegraph.co.uk, 11th December 2009

Subject: Claim that supplement containing marigolds (Macushield) can cure macular disease.

Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6782415/Retired-optician-cures-own-blindness-with-marigolds.html

Also:

MailOnline, 11th December 2009

Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1234955/The-marigold-miracle-saved-sight.html

The Independent, 16th December 2009

Subject: Profile of Paul Ryb, working MDS member, and use of low vision aids

Link: http://www.maculardisease.org/show_news.asp?section=00040003&id=460&date=2009/12/16

MailOnline, 19th December 2009

Subject: NHS offering surgical procedure using beams of radiation to destroy the abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eye.
Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1237165/The-one-hour-treatment-cure-blindness.html#ixzz0eHqI9zn1

BirminghamMail.net, 22nd December 2009

Subject: Faith Barber Story – profile of 17 year old girl with macular degeneration, who has raised £2000 for the MDS

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-mail-indepth/german-market-birmingham/2009/12/22/health-faith-spreads-message-of-hope-to-teens-97319-25447711/

BusinessWire, 13th January 2010

Acucela Launches ENVISION Clarity Trial; Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Oral Visual Cycle Modulator in Patients with Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Link: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100113006447&newsLang=en

Xconomy Seattle, 20th January 2010

Subject:  Acucela  planning trials to develop a drug to treat dry form of macular degeneration

Link: http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2010/01/20/acucela-enters-fast-growth-phase-as-macular-degeneration-drug-advances-to-key-trial/

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Gwyn Dickinson

Subject: Gwyn Dickenson – press coverage of OBE

Express & Echo, Thursday, December 31, 2009, 07:15

Okehampton Times, 6th January 2010

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Lesley Fletcher

Yorkshire Post, 24th December 2009

Subject: Lesley Fletcher – was refused funding for treatment by her Primary Care Trust in January 2009 - turned to the MDS for help and support. After a prolonged struggle by her Consultant, the Society, and a visit to the Houses of Parliament to highlight the situation, the PCT finally agreed to fund her treatment.

Link: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Postcode-lottery-patient-wins-fight.5937347.jp

 Also:

 Tuesday 29th December 2009                                       

Telegraph & Argus

  and

Thursday 31st December 2009

Craven Herald & Pioneer
Gran, 55, wins battle for drug to save her sight

By Clive White

A grandmother facing going blind because of a post code lottery, has received the best belated Christmas present ever.

Lesley Fletcher has been told she can have the drug which should save her failing sight. The good news follows an appeal by her consultant and after Miss Fletcher, 55, presented her case before politicians in Parliament.

She has been informed she can now have the drug Avastin to treat her condition – myopic macular degeneration. “It’s absolutely fantastic – the best news ever and a fabulous Christmas present “And now I can look forward to watching my 11 grandchildren grow up,” said Miss Fletcher of Park Drive, Sutton, near Skipton. The catering assistant at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, is expecting to start the treatment early in the new year.

“I got an e-mail from my consultant at St Lukes in Bradford, Helen Devonport, and I got the official letter last Saturday. I‘m very happy about it.

“It involves an injection in my left eye which is the one badly affected.

“It will shorten the bloodvessels behind my eye so they no longer press on the retina and then my eyesight should improve. It’s brilliant.”

Miss Fletcher is also expecting to be able to wear less strong glasses.

“I want to thank Helen, my consultant, who has been wonderfully supportive writing letters and collating evidence and also the Macular Disease Society who have backed me all the way,” she added.

Miss Fletcher took up her fight after learning that North Yorkshire and York – and Bradford and Airedale – did not have a policy to routinely fund the treatment despite some other health bosses in the country financing the drugs.

Short-sighted all her life, she found in February she could barely see out of her left eye. Tests showed she had bleeding behind the eye and she was suffering myopic macular degeneration. She was told that drug treatment was important to save her sight but later learned she could not have the treatment.

To delay the progress of the disease, Miss Fletcher was given laser treatment, which helped, but she continued her fight for the drug treatment.

A spokesman for NHS Bradford and Airedale said: “We would fund use of the drug Lucentis provided that the patient’s condition met with the eligibility criteria set out in NICE guidelines. “We would make a clinical assessment of each individual’s condition before making this decision.”