Says WellPoint CEO Joseph R. Swedish, “1-800 Contacts has strong brand recognition and a leading direct-to-consumer model. However, as we prepare for the coming changes to the health care system, we are focused on our core growth opportunities across both our commercial and government business segments. Proceeds from this transaction will support our continued capital deployment strategies.”
InSite Vision announced positive Phase III results for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug BromSite (bromfenac 0.075% in DuraSite vehicle) for reduction of inflammation and pain after cataract surgery. In one of two trials, 57% of patients on BromSite were completely free of inflammation at day 15, compared to 21% on the vehicle. The company plans to file a New Drug Application with the FDA later this year for the approval of BromSite.
An FDA advisory committee recommended the approval of Hetlioz (tasimelteon, Vanda Pharmaceuticals) as the first treatment of non-24-hour-disorder (“Non-24”) in the totally blind. Non-24 is a serious, rare and chronic circadian rhythm disorder that affects the majority of totally blind individuals and is characterized by the inability to synchronize the master body clock with the 24-hour day-night cycle, the company says.
The FDA has cleared RPS’s InflammaDry—a rapid, disposable, in-office test for the diagnosis of dry eye disease—for sale in the United States. The InflammaDry test is reimbursable under CPT Code 83516.
