Industry News
Long-Term Canaloplasty Study Reveals Positive Results in Glaucoma Treatment
Nova Eye Medical Limited, a medical technology company specialising in advanced ophthalmic treatment technologies and devices, has announced the publication of groundbreaking six-year data in the Journal of Glaucoma. The research showcases the long-term effectiveness and safety profile of canaloplasty utilizing the company's proprietary iTrack™ canaloplasty microcatheter.
The retrospective, single-center study, conducted at the Augencentrum Köln-Porz in Köln, Germany, was spearheaded by Prof. Norbert Koerber and Dr. Simon Ondrejka. It recruited 27 eyes to undergo canaloplasty, performed through an ab interno surgical technique. Canaloplasty was administered as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with cataract surgery, targeting cases of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliative (PEX) glaucoma. This study marks the longest follow-up for ab interno canaloplasty available in published literature.
After six years of follow-up, the results demonstrated a significant reduction in mean intraocular pressure (IOP) from 19.9 ± 5.2 mmHg at baseline to 14.6 ± 3.3 mmHg (p<0.001). Notably, there was no statistically significant difference between standalone canaloplasty procedures and those combined with cataract surgery. Additionally, the mean number of medications was reduced by over 50%, from 1.9 ± 1 to 0.9 ± 0.9 (p=0.005) at six years.
Prof. Norbert Koerber, an internationally renowned glaucoma surgeon and one of the pioneers of the canaloplasty procedure, has been employing the iTrack™ canaloplasty microcatheter in clinical practice for nearly two decades. He emphasized the unique advantages of canaloplasty, stating, "I was an early adopter of canaloplasty. I have always been a big believer in its stent-free, tissue-sparing approach. Unlike other MIGS procedures which stent or remove diseased tissue in the conventional outflow pathway, canaloplasty allows me to work with patient physiology to re-establish the natural flow of aqueous throughout the entire conventional outflow pathway, including the collector channels."
Prof. Koerber further highlighted the comprehensive approach of canaloplasty, targeting and treating the trabecular meshwork, Schlemm's canal, and collector channels, contributing to its sustained duration of effect, as demonstrated by the recently published 6-year data.
Kate Hunt, Chief Commercial Officer at Nova Eye Medical, expressed optimism about the study's potential impact on the adoption of canaloplasty by surgeons. She commented, "The results from doctors Koerber and Ondrejka point to a sustained reduction in IOP following canaloplasty in cases of mild-moderate glaucoma. Not only will this data help to build advocacy for canaloplasty in the glaucoma treatment paradigm, but it will also support the commercial roll-out of our next-generation iTrack™ technology, iTrack™ Advance."
Ms. Hunt acknowledged the study's limitations due to its small population but stressed its significance in providing compelling real-world evidence in support of working with patient physiology, rather than removing it or stenting it, to deliver effective, long-term reduction in IOP.
The publication of this long-term study provides a significant contribution to the field of glaucoma treatment, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and encouraging the adoption of canaloplasty as a valuable approach for managing this eye condition.
