Nov 1 2007
Ellex Medical Lasers Limited, a global leader in the design and manufacture of ophthalmic laser and ultrasound systems, announced today that the initial results of treating patients with Retina Regeneration Therapy (Ellex 2RT(TM)) will be presented by Peter Hamilton MD, FRCOph at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which takes place November 10-13, in New Orleans.
Dr. Hamilton conducted the first patient treatments recently in London under the direction of Professor John Marshall, Ph.D., FRCPath. Professor Marshall, an Ellex board director, is currently Frost Professor of Ophthalmology at the Rayne Institute and Head of the Academic Department of Ophthalmology at King's College, University of London.
Ellex 2RT is a new non-thermal laser treatment that relies on nanosecond pulses of laser energy to stimulate the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to preserve vision. Laboratory research conducted under Professor Marshall over the past few years has demonstrated that the Ellex 2RT method causes the RPE to migrate and release matrix metalloproteinase (MMP's), which are the enzymes that clean up Bruch's membrane.
Further laboratory experiments to measure the ability of Bruch's membrane to transport water and chemicals have shown the entire transport mechanism of the retina has been rejuvenated. Dr. Hamilton treated the initial series of patients in London following two years of laboratory research funded by Ellex and conducted under the direction of Professor Marshall at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, UK and Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia.
"Dr. Hamilton's presentation of Ellex 2RT patient data at the AAO marks a milestone for Ellex and Professor Marshall's collaborative research program," commented Peter Falzon, Ellex CEO. "We are pleased to be working with Professor Marshall and Dr. Hamilton, long-time leaders in the field of ophthalmology, to advance the science and technology that is enabling Ellex 2RT to emerge as a potential new therapy of interest for early AMD and diabetic patients. More research is needed and at Ellex we look forward to investigating and reporting the benefits of 2RT therapy over time."
"Ellex 2RT is a candidate therapy for retinal diseases that are caused by a compromised Bruch's membrane resulting in reduced energy supply to, and waste removal from, the photoreceptors," commented Professor Marshall. "The diseases that can potentially be treated include early AMD, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases. With Ellex 2RT, there is the potential to treat retinal diseases earlier, before irreversible physical changes occur and before patients experience significant vision loss."
The Ellex 2RT prototype laser systems were developed specifically for Ellex 2RT laboratory and clinical trials by the Ellex advanced research team in Adelaide, Australia. Although there are many types of lasers used in ophthalmology, Ellex 2RT therapy parameters are unique and can only be performed with an Ellex 2RT laser system. Ellex has international patents pending for the Ellex 2RT technology and method.