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December 17, 2021

VUITY is Now Available as the First FDA-approved Eye Drop to Treat Presbyopia

Allergan, an AbbVie company, has announced that VUITY (pilocarpine HCl ophthalmic solution) 1.25% is now available by prescription in pharmacies nationwide. It is the first and only eye drop approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat presbyopia. VUITY is an optimized formulation of pilocarpine, an established eye care therapeutic, specifically designed to treat presbyopia. It is delivered with proprietary pHast technology, which allows VUITY to rapidly adjust to the physiologic pH of the tear film. VUITY uses the eye's own ability to reduce pupil size, improving near and intermediate vision while maintaining distance vision. More information can be found at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vuity-pilocarpine-hci-ophthalmic-solution-1-25-the-first-and-only-fda-approved-eye-drop-to-treat-age-related-blurry-near-vision-presbyopia-is-now-available-301441253.html.

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals and ImprimisRx Announce Expanded U.S. Commercial Alliance for DEXYCU

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals and ImprimisRx, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harrow Health, Inc., have jointly announced the expansion of their commercial alliance in which ImprimisRx will assume responsibility for U.S. sales and marketing activities for DEXYCU (dexamethasone intraocular suspension) 9% for the treatment of post-operative inflammation following ocular surgery in the U.S. The amended agreement expands the commercial alliance previously established in August 2020 between the companies. Under the terms of the expanded alliance, ImprimisRx will assume responsibility for the sales and marketing of DEXYCU in the U.S. and will absorb the majority of EyePoint’s DEXYCU commercial organization. EyePoint will continue to recognize net product revenue and maintain manufacturing and distribution responsibilities for DEXYCU along with non-sales related regulatory compliance. EyePoint will pay ImprimisRx a commission based on the net sales of DEXYCU and will retain all commercial rights for DEXYCU. This amended agreement will be effective on January 1, 2022. More information can be found at https://www.globenewswire.com /news-release/2021/12/07/2347845/0/en/EyePoint-Pharmaceuticals-and-Harrow-Health-s-ImprimisRx-Announce-Expanded-U-S-Commercial-Alliance-for-DEXYCU.html.

Ocuphire Expands Medical Advisory Board to Support Advancement of Nyxol and APX333

Ocuphire Pharma has appointed six new key opinion leaders across retina, refractive surgery, and optometry to its medical advisory board (MAB) to support advancement of their lead clinical assets, Nyxol and APX3330, in reversal of mydriasis, presbyopia, night vision disturbance, and diabetic eye diseases. The new members of the MAB are retina specialists David Brown, MD, and David Lally, MD; refractive surgeons Y. Ralph Chu, MD, James Katz, MD, and Mitchell A. Jackson, MD; and optometrist Douglas Devries, OD. More information can be found at https://www.ocuphire.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/358/ocuphire-expands-prestigious-medical-advisory-board-with.

TearLab Announces Adam Szaronos as President and CEO, and Jim Mazzo as Executive Chairman of the Board

TearLab Corporation, a global ophthalmic diagnostics company marketing point-of-care laboratory testing, has announced that Adam Szaronos has been appointed president and chief executive officer by the company's board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Szaronos has been instrumental in leading teams and bringing innovations to market to address unmet needs throughout eye care. He joined TearLab's executive team as chief commercial officer in 2020 after the company was acquired by investment firm Accelmed Partners, and was responsible for overseeing the commercial restructuring and relaunch of TearLab's global diagnostics business. Prior to TearLab, Mr. Szaronos held various sales, marketing, and strategic management positions of increasing responsibility at Alcon, with leadership experience throughout both the surgical and vision care businesses. The company also announced the appointment of Jim Mazzo as executive chairman of the board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Mazzo has over 40 years' experience, and is internationally renowned for building and running world-class organizations. More information can be found at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tearlab-corporation-announces-adam-szaronos-as-president-and-chief-executive-officer-and-jim-mazzo-as-executive-chairman-of-the-board-301441306.html.

ACMG Foundation Receives Gift from Spark Therapeutics for Ophthalmic Genetics Fellowships

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine has received a commitment from Spark Therapeutics to fund two fellowship training awards in ophthalmic genetics, through its Next Generation fellowship & training awards program. This is the first time in its history that the ACMG Foundation will provide funding for training in this rapidly advancing area of specialty in medical genetics and genomics. The awards program has worked to address a shortage of medical genetics experts needed to diagnose and treat patients with genetic disorders. To date, it has funded a total of 60 years of study in genetic and genomic medicine to highly qualified medical students. This partnership will help foster medical genetics and genomics expertise for physicians seeking to specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of genetic eye disease. More information can be found at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acmg-foundation-receives-gift-from-spark-therapeutics-for-ophthalmic-genetics-fellowships-301436657.html.

M2 Biologics and Truax Patient Services Reach a Dispensing Deal

M2 Biologics, an emerging leader in the field of regenerative medicine, has announced a partnership with Truax Patient Services (TPS), a national dispensing pharmacy, to assist with fulfillment of StimulEyes, an innovative solution for dry eye disease (DED). Through this partnership, StimulEyes will be the first non-pharmaceutical biologic product dispensed through a national specialty pharmacy. M2 says StimulEyes treatment relies on the latest advancements in regenerative medicine, utilizing a unique fluid matrix of bio-proteins and hyaluronic acid that may reduce inflammation and provide lubricating relief to DED sufferers. Growth factors in the matrix have the potential to promote cell repair and restore normal ocular surface function. StimulEyes is delivered via a dropper system, and a typical prescription for calls for one drop in each eye twice a day for an initial three-month course of treatment. TPS serves as a national dispensing pharmacy for pharmaceutical manufacturers’ patient assistance programs, first fill, voucher fill, and contracted pharmacy solutions. As a specialty pharmacy, it focuses on the dispensing of vital medicines and treatments that are not regularly carried by most mainstream pharmacies. More information can be found at https://www.m2biologics.com/.

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