ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Post

Our portfolio company Retinai announced today the successful closing of its USD 6.18m (CHF 5.65m) Series A Extension round. Led by a new investor, the Corporate Venture Capital arm of Topcon Healthcare, the round included Zürcher Kantonalbank alongside existing investors from both Series A and Seed rounds, Verve Ventures, the btov Industrial Technologies fund managed by Matterwave Ventures, and private investors. To facilitate its evolution and growth, the company has also concluded its corporate restructuring, with RetinAI Medical AG rebranded as Ikerian AG to spearhead the use of its technology beyond ophthalmology and the wholly-owned subsidiary Retinai U.S. Inc. focused on the ophthalmology market. The new funds will support the continued development and commercial roll out of RetinAI Discovery® in ophthalmology and optometry and Ikerian's expansion into new therapeutic areas prioritizing neurodegenerative disorders, vascular conditions and rare diseases. Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gxW54UEu #fundingnews #retinai #ai #ophtalmology #technology #health #optometry

We made a poster presentation at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2024 Annual Meeting.    The poster, entitled “VECTrans® technology: a powerful delivery approach to significantly enhance efficacy of therapeutic oligonucleotides in retina cells”, outlines a study assessing Vect-Horus’ proprietorial VECTrans® technology. This is based on the specific design and optimization of molecular vectors that, once joined to a payload, enable its delivery to target specific organs in the body.     The study showed that these vectors have the potential to improve delivery of medication to the eye. It’s a good demonstration of the technology’s potential, building further on our two recent major licensing agreements, with Novo Nordisk and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.     With thanks to Stéphane Girard, PhD, Ophthalmology Department Manager, and Sebastien Roux, PhD, Neuroscientist, for their work on this.    #biotech #vectors #drugdevelopment #breakingbarriers #opthalmology #arvo 

🔊 [PRESS RELEASE] Théa Open Innovation and Link Biologics, announce the signature today of a partnership to co-develop Link_TSG6 for the treatment of Dry Eye Disease (DED) and other ophthalmology indications.   👁️"This collaboration showcases Théa’s dedication to delivering therapeutic solutions for dry eye conditions, addressing a significant unmet medical need.", says Jean-Frédéric Chibret, President of Théa Group.   To read the press release and for more information, link in comment 👇 #Théa #NeverStopLearning #LetsOpenOurEyes #Ophthalmology #Innovation 

📌 1 month to go until World Sight Day!! World Sight Day is on Thursday, 12th October 2023, and this year International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is focusing on the importance of eye care in the workplace with #LoveYourEyes at Work. Together, we can encourage employers to make eye health initiatives standard practice and promote eye health habits that will benefit the well-being, safety and productivity of millions of employees. Here are some things you can do to help: ✅ Prioritize your own eye health. Make sure to get regular eye exams and wear protective eyewear when needed. Don't forget to pledge your test at - Make A Pledge https://lnkd.in/dPVc_3Ap 👷♂️ Encourage your employer to provide quality eye care to employees. This could include providing on-site eye exams, vision insurance, or financial assistance for eyeglasses or contact lenses. 📢 Advocate for eye health awareness in your workplace. Talk to your colleagues and managers about the importance of eye care and how it can improve workplace safety and productivity. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against avoidable blindness. #WorldSightDay #LoveYourEyes Download workplace resources and find out how to host a workplace screening today from the IAPB website - www.iapb.org/WSD2023

We recently held a captivating session on the future of our portfolio companies in ophthalmology, moderated by Andrew Stewart, President of Global Pharmaceuticals and International Consumer at Bausch + Lomb. Jeffry Weinhuff, Founder & Managing Partner at Visionary Ventures, shared some candid reflections, noting that while the past two years have been tough, we recently achieved a significant milestone with a huge exit. This success highlights the resilience and potential of our well-developed companies. Anthony Wallace, VP & GM of North America at Bausch + Lomb, provided valuable insights into our investment philosophy. He emphasized that we look beyond just acquiring revenue – we assess whether an asset is better off within our portfolio and if it aligns with our strategic goals. Feasibility is key, and this focus ensures that we pursue only the most promising opportunities. Jai G. Parekh, MD, MBA, FAAO, Co-Founder of EyeCare Consultants-NJ and Chief Commercial Officer at Nordic Pharma Eye Care, highlighted the importance of market access in launching successful products, stressing that in ophthalmology, patient and stakeholder satisfaction is paramount. Marty Waters, Partner at Wilson Sonsini, brought a unique perspective, discussing our practice's engagement with investors and entrepreneurs. He reiterated that ophthalmology is a resilient and dynamic field within medtech. Anthony Wallace expressed enthusiasm about the continuous advancements in retina, lenses, and smart devices combined with pharmaceuticals, all aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. Finally, Jai G. Parekh shared an exciting outlook on the glaucoma market, predicting an integration of glaucoma, cornea, and cataract treatments in the near future. This session truly underscored the strategic thinking and innovation driving our investments in ophthalmology. It’s clear that we’re not just navigating challenges but actively shaping the future of eye care. #OTF2024 #InvstmentLandscape

🚨💵Exciting news in the #neuromodulation arena as Boston Scientific announces agreement to acquire Axonics, Inc. for an estimated $3.7B USD. Under the proposed new deal, Boston Scientific will reportedly pay $71 per share bringing all of Axonics, Inc. ($336M USD Reported 2023 Revenue) sacral neuromodulation business under Boston Scientific's urology division with expectations to finalize in Q3 24'. Boston Scientific has been aggressively involved in medtech M&A over the last 18 months with over $1.3B in acquisitions including Relievant Medsystems, Inc. as well as Acotec Scientific Co., Ltd “We are excited to add Axonics technologies to the Boston Scientific portfolio, a combination that we expect will further strengthen our ability to serve urologists who are treating patients living with these often-chronic conditions. This acquisition also enables our entry into sacral neuromodulation, a high-growth adjacency with opportunities to expand access to care for patients.” - Meghan Scanlon, Boston Scientific President of Urology #medtechmoney #mergersandacquisitions #neurostimulation #urology The Mullings Group MarketWatch

👁️ 𝐎𝐩𝐡𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 👁️ The big news that everyone is talking about this week is that Alcon are set to acquire BELKIN Vision and the 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐒𝐋𝐓 laser 🦅👀 The news originally stemmed from notification to the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange with Alcon later confirming that they have entered into an agreement. No financials have been confirmed but reports are that the deal could be worth up to $325 million with milestone payments 📈💰 Belkin CEO, Daria Lemann-Blumenthal said “Belkin Vision was founded on the premise of enhancing access to care. Created and nurtured by our talented team, the Eagle device, the world's first non-contact, automated direct-SLT system, brings a step-change to first-line glaucoma care. This agreement brings us closer to realizing our vision enabling a rapid expansion to reach more doctors and patients globally.” The Eagle received FDA 510(k) clearance back in December and I've had the pleasure of seeing the device up close with demonstrations thanks to Belkin CCO, Andrew Webb. Every recent conference I have attended has always seen a great buzz around the Belkin booth with many doctors and specialists wanting to see the capabilities of the Eagle. I've heard that this has been the same at all shows in the US and globally too 👨🏻⚕️👩🏻⚕️👁️ Alcon has a long standing presence in the glaucoma space with mixed success. On the pharma side, they have always had a strong market presence which they strengthened with acquisitions of companies such as 𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬 💉💧 On the device side however, their glaucoma acquisitions have not always been huge successes (𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐥 and the Express shunt, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝 and CyPass). More recently, the acquisition of 𝐈𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬 and the Hydrus has been very successful for Alcon in making their way back into the MIGS space where they have been able to grow global market share 🌍 With the innovation behind Belkin's technology, now backed by an industry leader, I'm sure that the only result will be success and ultimately a positive impact on patients worldwide 👍🏻✅ #glaucoma #ophthalmology #acquisition #belkinvision #alcon

🔊 [PRESS RELEASE] Théa Open Innovation and Link Biologics, announce the signature today of a partnership to co-develop Link_TSG6 for the treatment of Dry Eye Disease (DED) and other ophthalmology indications.   👁️"This collaboration showcases Théa’s dedication to delivering therapeutic solutions for dry eye conditions, addressing a significant unmet medical need.", says Jean-Frédéric Chibret, President of Théa Group.   To read the press release and for more information, link in comment 👇 #Théa #NeverStopLearning #LetsOpenOurEyes #Ophthalmology #Innovation 

What is Glaucoma?   We recently had the honor of hosting Professor Philippe Denis, a leading expert in #glaucoma, for a presentation on this insidious disease and how we can best treat it.   Prof. Denis, who is Head of Ophthalmology at the Croix-Rousse University Hospital in Lyon, took part in a webcast along with Nicox CEO Gavin Spencer, who provided an update on our strategic and financing perspectives and plans for 2024 and 2025.   “So often, the disease is insidious. The patient doesn't really realize it because the center is still preserved. But with time, the dark peripheral areas come to the center and, of course, begin to bother the patient,” Professor Denis says.   “In time, this can lead to true blindness. And by the way, glaucoma is the first cause of absolute blindness that is defined by an absence of visual perception.”   Watch the full webcast here https://lnkd.in/g4y3Xszn   #biotech #drugdevelopment #healthcare #eyecare #eyedrops #pharmaceuticals

We always learn so much from Dr. Deepinder Dhaliwal! In case you missed it, watch her recent interview with Carey Powers on “Eye on Innovation.” Dr. Dhaliwal highlights three key patient needs: less discomfort, faster recovery, and lower risk. We agree 💯! Catch the full episode on the OIS YouTube channel for more insights into the evolution of keratoconus management, including our Phase 3 APRICITY Trials for epithelium-on cross-linking. #Keratoconus #KeratoconusClinicalTrials #EpitheliumOn #CornealCrosslinking #Crosslining