-- Study Finds Visual Function Improves in Majority of Patients Implanted with the CE Marked Alpha IMS Subretinal Microchip
CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Retina Implant AG, the leading developer of subretinal implants for patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), today announced that Dr. Helmut Sachs, senior consultant and head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Clinic Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Germany presented patient outcomes at one year post-implantation of the CE marked Alpha IMS subretinal microchip at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting. The presentation took place at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. yesterday afternoon during the meeting's Vitreous Retina session.
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Dr. Sachs' presentation, "Subretinal Implantation and Functional Results of the Alpha IMS Chip to Restore Vision in 26 Blind Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients," reviewed patients' every day visual experiences after implantation with the Alpha IMS subretinal microchip. Key findings included improved ability to detect light and grating acuity in 85 percent and 54 percent of patients, respectively. The study authors concluded that implantation of the Alpha IMS is safe, and that the majority of patients demonstrated a marked improvement in their visual capabilities, including recognition of shapes, objects or details in daily life.
"Our study results validate the Alpha IMS subretinal implant as a new, safe tool that should be considered for use in blind RP patients," said Dr. Helmut Sachs, study investigator and senior consultant and head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Clinic Dresden-Friedrichstadt Hospital in Dresden, Germany. "It is a great honor to have been selected to represent my fellow investigators to share Retina Implant's global clinical trial results at the foremost global gathering of the ophthalmology community. AAO is an ideal forum to educate leading clinicians looking for breakthrough treatment options, such as the Alpha IMS, for their patients."
The multi-center trial was led by Professor Eberhart Zrenner, founding director of the Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Germany in partnership with Dr. Helmut Sachs, senior consultant and head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Clinic Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Germany; Professor Robert MacLaren, professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford and a consultant retinal surgeon at the Oxford Eye Hospital; Mr. Tim Jackson, Ph.D., consultant retinal surgeon at King's College Hospital London; Dr. Caroline Chee, senior consultant and head of Surgical Retina, National University Hospital, and clinical associate professor, National University of Singapore; Professor David Wong, chair professor in Ophthalmology and Director of the Eye Institute, University of Hong Kong; and Dr. Janos Nemeth, director of the Department of Ophthalmology at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary.
"Since obtaining CE mark last year, our global investigator team has shared our trial results at several scientific meetings around the world, driving growing interest in the Alpha IMS technology," said Walter-G Wrobel, CEO of Retina Implant AG. "Our momentum continues as we focus on transforming our scientific breakthrough into a commercial treatment with widespread reimbursement support in the EU."
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is the largest U.S. membership association of ophthalmologists, medical and osteopathic doctors who provide comprehensive eye care, including medical, surgical and optical care. The Academy includes over 7,000 international members and more than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members. The annual AAO meeting advances the Academy's mission of promoting lifelong learning among the ophthalmology community by offering instructional courses, key-note lectures, hands-on symposia and paper sessions for attendees.
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About Retina Implant AGRetina Implant AG is the leading developer of subretinal implants for partially sighted and blind patients. After extensive research with German university hospitals and institutes which began with a large grant from the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education in 1996, Retina Implant AG was founded by Dr. Eberhart Zrenner, professor of Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Germany and his colleagues in 2003 with private investors with the goal of developing a fully-functioning electronic retinal implant to restore useful vision to the blind. Retina Implant began implanting human patients in 2005 and started a second, larger clinical trial in 2010. In July 2013, Retina Implant's wireless subretinal implant technology, Alpha IMS, received CE mark. To learn more, visit http://www.retina-implant.de/.
