Last week, attendees at the 2023 European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) 15-17 June, Prague (https://soe2023.soevision.org) had the opportunity to learn about the latest clinical studies exploring Omnigen’s application in the management of complex non-healing ocular surface damage, which is a challenging concern for ophthalmology services.
NuVision’s Omnigen® dehydrated amniotic membrane provides ophthalmologists with access to treatment in both a traditional surgical setting and an outpatient patient setting, through suture-free contact lens application.
SURGICALLY GRAFTED OMNIGEN SHOWN TO SUPPORT HEALING IN PERSISTENT CORNEAL EPITHELIAL DEFECTS
In an independent retrospective study, Miss Lucia Pelosini, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Queen Mary’s Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK, found that surgically grafting Omnigen supported healing in persistent corneal epithelial defect patients and improved the level of patient comfort. 44 out of 45 patients successfully healed without the need for further procedures (mean time to healing of 29 days), whilst vision was improved in 27% of patients (decreased in 6% of patients).
SUTURELESS OUTPATIENT APPLIED OMNIGEN IMPROVED OCULAR SURFACE HEALING FOR SEVERE OCULAR DISEASE
In a 2.5-year retrospective review of severe ocular surface disease managed in a tertiary corneal unit with Omnigen applied via OmniLenz, a bandage contact lens. Dr Derek Ho, Corneal Research Fellow at Bristol Eye Hospital reported Omnigen provides a convenient and effective surgery-free treatment option, which is available in a routine outpatient setting.
Dr Ho’s poster was awarded the Diploma in recognition of presenting the Best Poster (see below) and he was invited to deliver an additional oral presentation in the FP04: Free Papers 4: Cornea, Ocular Surface session on the 16th June 2023.
Both studies showed positive outcomes, offering a promising treatment option for ophthalmologists and patients alike.
The research by Miss Pelosini “Dry human amniotic membrane-derived matrix for the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects” (Abstract EP-COR-49), and Dr Ho “The use of human amniotic membrane-derived material in ocular surface healing promotion: a 2.5-year retrospective study” (Abstract EP-COR-05), can be viewed in the abstract E-Book (link).
About NuVision Biotherapies
NuVision Biotherapies is based in MediCity, Nottingham, NuVision Biotherapies is a tissue-therapies company spun out from the University of Nottingham. NuVision was established in 2015, and founded on investment from Mercia Fund Management, to develop and bring to market cutting-edge, ophthalmic therapies to the market.
About Omnigen
Omnigen, Tereo processed amniotic membrane is a patented dry preparation of human amniotic membrane. The amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the placental sac, which protects and holds the foetus during pregnancy. NuVision upcycles and transforms this waste product of birth into an effective wound care product. The Tereo manufacturing process, developed at the University of Nottingham’s Academic Ophthalmology department, transforms this waste product of birth into a sterile and stable dry therapy that can be easily shipped and accessed anywhere in the world. Omnigen is applied directly to the wound dry and is rapidly and effectively rehydrated using the surrounding moisture of the eye. The product represents a unique and versatile “off-the-shelf” healing product, and it may be stored long-term. The Tereo process preserves the natural integrity of the amniotic membrane and provides surgeons with an effective therapy that could provide a meaningful benefit to patients.
About OmniLenz
OmniLenz is a specially modified bandage contact lens designed to apply and hold Omnigen at the ocular surface without the need for sutures or surgery. OmniLenz is manufactured exclusively for NuVision by Menicon, UK. Omnigen can be applied by OmniLenz using a simple 4 – 6-minute procedure in an outpatient setting. The decision to apply Omnigen to the ocular surface using OmniLenz is at the discretion of the clinician.
