eye-2017-keynote

5 / 5

Page 38
alliedacademies
Ophthalmol Case Rep 2017 Volume 1 Issue 1
August 21-23, 2017 | Toronto, Canada EYE AND VISION3rd International Conference on
Notes:
G laucoma is a blinding disease encompassing a multitude
of retinal/optic neuropathies. Primary open angle
glaucoma (POAG) is the most prevalent form that afflicts
>70 million people world-wide and is projected to increase
as better diagnosis is accomplished. Currently, there is no
cure for POAG, and only the common symptom of elevated
intraocular pressure (IOP) can be treated. However, there
are patients whose IOPs are considered normal, whose
vision continues to deteriorate, and their glaucoma
remains uncontrolled. These patients may need alternative
interventions such as neuroprotective agents that can retard
their vision loss. While FP-prostaglandin agonists (FPGAs)
are first-line therapy for reducing IOP and preventing retinal
ganglion cell demise, most FPGAs are losing their patent
protection and there are many patients who are refractory
to FPGAs-treatment and/or are highly sensitive to the drug
or its preservative formulations. Additionally, there is the
issue of dosing non-compliance of patients due to infirmity,
forgetfulness, and/or simple abstinence of treatment in view
of the ocular side-effects like hyperemia, ocular irritation
and ocular allergies. Furthermore, many patients with
POAG and ocular hypertension (OHT) require more than
one type of drug to control their IOPs. Therefore, research
and development of new drug candidates and devices to
lower and control IOP, including non-peptide bradykinin B2-
receptor agonists (e.g. FR-190997), is being pursued world-
wide. However, just lowering IOP is insufficient to prevent
the visual impairment that ensues due to OHT and glaucoma.
Therefore, it is now accepted that direct neuroprotective
therapy, in addition to lowering IOP, is necessary to help
patients afflicted with glaucomatous optic neuropathies.
This presentation will discuss some of the novel IOP-lowering
drugs (e.g. Omidenepag Isopropyl [DE-117]; Rhopressa [AR-
11324]; Netarsudil]; drug conjugates (Latanoprostene Bunod
[Latanoprost-nitric oxide donor), and combination products
(e.g. Roclatan [Latanoprost + AR-11324). Furthermore,
innovative devices coupled with surgical procedures (e.g.
iStent; Innfocus Microshunt) (MIGS) as ocular hypotensives,
and potential neuroprotective strategies will be discussed.
Speaker Biography
Naj Sharif completed his graduation from Southampton University, England (UK),
where he received his BSc (Joint Honors: Biochemistry and Physiology) and his PhD
(Neuroscience). He has been in the pharmaceutical industry for >30-years holding
leadership positions spanning discovery research, drug development and regulatory
affairs. He has worked at Pfizer, Syntex (Roche), Alcon-Novartis, and is currently
at Santen Inc. (Executive Director, R&D). His 23-tenure at Alcon resulted in his
contributions to the discovery/development and US FDA approvals of Travatan®,
Patanol®, Simbrinza®, and Pazeo® to treat glaucoma/ocular hypertension and ocular
allergies. He is a Fellow of ARVO (FARVO), and Fellow of British Pharmacological Society
(BPS) (FBPhS). He was honored as the first recipient of the inaugural Dr. Roger Vogel
Award for ocular pharmaceutical research (2014), and the “Sir James Black Award” for
contributions to drug discovery from BPS (2017). He serves on the editorial boards of
numerous scientific journals and is an Adjunct Professor at several universities. He has
published 200 scientific articles and edited 2 books, and is the holder of 23 issued US
and EU patents.
e:
Naj Sharif
Santen Inc., USA
Ocular hypotensive and neuroprotective treatments for glaucoma