Jetrea (ocriplasmin), a drug used to help prevent sight loss through vitreomacular traction (VMT), has been launched in the UK.

The launch by Alcon, a division of Novartis, represents the drug’s first entry into the European market.

Developed by Belgian company ThromboGenics, Jetrea could help to save the sight of over 250,000 patients in Europe.

Alcon has entered into a partnership with ThromboGenics to sell Jetrea outside the US.

The manufacturer has now received two €45m milestone payments from Alcon: one for the drug’s EU approval and one for its first sale in the UK.

Jetrea is currently undergoing NICE appraisal, with guidance expected near the end of 2013.

VMT is a progressive age-related condition in which the vitreous humour becomes too strongly attached to the retina, eventually tearing it.

Administered by a single injection, Jetrea (an enzyme suspension) breaks down the protein fibres that cause traction on the retina. It can prevent damage to the retina or stop existing damage from becoming worse.

The only current treatment is late-stage surgery to repair a damaged retina, but this is often too late to save the patient’s sight.

“The launch of Jetrea in Europe by Alcon so shortly after gaining European approval is testimony of our joint commitment to ensuring patients in Europe have access to this innovative drug as soon as possible,” said Dr Patrik De Haes, CEO of ThromboGenics.

“We expect that Alcon will roll out Jetrea into other European markets in the coming months and are working with our partner to ensure that all the support for physicians, payers and patients is fully in place.”

A new, hi-tech retinal imaging system that could help millions of diabetes patients from going blind has been launched in Europe.

EasyScan, developed by eye diagnostics specialist, i-Optics, is easy-to-use and more portable than systems currently used in retinal imaging.

The device aims to diagnose and treat diabetes patients quicker to prevent blindness earlier.

As pupil dilation is not required for diagnosis, the device reduces patients’ waiting times by at least 30 minutes. Patients can also drive immediately after examination.

Jereon Cammeraat, CEO at iOptics, said: “With aging populations and growing obesity, countries everywhere face a rapid increase in diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other retinal diseases.”

He said that the current technology featuring fundus cameras are “large, exclusive, and expensive, as well as being slow and difficult to use”.

EasyScan’s non-invasive technology consumes little energy and can connect to a PC or laptop via a USB port. Using Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO) technology, the device can identify clinical features in the retina in the earliest stages, provide better contrast than traditional fundus cameras, and can better penetrate media opacities such as cataract and corneal opacities.

i-Optics is a worldwide eye imaging developer, aiming to develop affordable, quick retinal diagnosis solutions.