NEWSspectrum

Professor Brien Holden Passes Away

Brien Holden, OAM, CEO of Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI), Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW Australia, and beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on July 27 in Sydney at the age of 73. A global leader in eye care and vision research, internationally renowned and awarded scientist and humanitarian, Professor Holden was known as the most influential optometrist of our generation. He inspired scientists and healthcare professionals around the world with his dream of “vision for everyone, everywhere.”

While accepting the Charles F. Prentice Medal, optometry’s highest honor, and acknowledging contributions and collaborations throughout his career, Professor Holden quoted Sir Isaac Newton, saying “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Contact Lens Spectrum Editor Professor Jason Nichols said, “Brien was more than the greatest and most influential optometrist the world has ever known. He was a remarkably caring human being and a tremendous friend. There is no way that words can even come close to expressing the void left in his absence. The world has lost a light that will never be lit again, but rest assured that we carry forward with his vision for everyone, everywhere.”

Speaking on behalf of BHVI, Deputy CEO Professor Kovin Naidoo noted that Professor Holden was truly an intellectual giant in eye health and vision, a powerhouse driving change by mobilizing teams globally united in science and service to the disadvantaged of our world.

Professor Brian Layland, chair of the BHVI board and lifelong friend of Professor Holden, stated, “Brien’s efforts and achievements have been recognized, applauded, and adopted worldwide. All who have worked with him will have fond memories to cherish; all will miss him. His legacy will encourage all to strive to achieve the goals he had set.”

The September issue of Contact Lens Spectrum will feature a tribute article to Professor Holden.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals to Acquire Unilens

Unilens Vision Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement under which a subsidiary of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Unilens for $12.75 per share in cash, or a total enterprise value of approximately $28 million, which includes approximately $5 million in debt. The transaction was unanimously approved by Unilens’ board of directors and is expected to close by Sept. 1, 2015, subject to stockholder approval and customary closing conditions.

The acquisition will bolster Valeant’s specialty contact lens business and will provide a complete line of specialty lens products to eyecare professionals. The Unilens C-Vue brands of customized and disposable contact lenses will continue to be marketed and sold directly to practitioners.

Benton, Dawson Join Shire

Shire has hired Susan Benton as head of Business Development, Ophthalmics. Ms. Benton has more than 25 years of commercial business experience, including 17 years focused in ophthalmology. She will be responsible for business development initiatives stemming from Shire’s organic research and development efforts as well as acquisitions and partnerships.

In 2006, Ms. Benton cofounded Sirion Therapeutics, a fully integrated ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company. Prior to Sirion, she held numerous commercial and business development leadership positions at RPS Diagnostics, Valeant, Johnson & Johnson, Bausch + Lomb, and Sanofi Pasteur.

Also joining Shire is Dr. Tracey Dawson as Commercial Launch Lead, Ophthalmics. In this role, she is responsible for developing and leading the overall commercial launch planning process for the Ophthalmics Business Unit.

Most recently, Dr. Dawson was senior director, Global and U.S. Marketing at Synageva BioPharma Corporation. Prior to this, she held positions with Genentech/Roche and Novartis.

Applications Available for Annual ABB Cares Program

ABB Optical Group began accepting applications for its second annual ABB Cares program on Aug. 3. Designed to recognize outstanding community organizations across the country, eyecare professionals are invited to nominate non-profits for grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Applications are due before Sept. 1.

Five organizations will be selected as recipients of an ABB Cares grant. ABB Optical Group will award one Platinum grant of $5,000, two Gold grants of $2,500 each, and two Silver grants of $1,000 each to organizations that have a demonstrated, positive impact on their local communities.

Organizations do not need to focus on eye health to qualify. To be considered as a grant recipient, all candidates must comply with the following:

• The organization must be a 501(c)(3) organization and provide proof of this status.

• The organization’s local office must be within 30 miles of the nominating practice’s primary location.

• Applications must be completed and submitted online.

• The deadline to submit an application is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31.

Allergan Receives Notice Letter on Restasis

Allergan plc confirmed that the company has received a notice letter dated July 10, 2015 from Akorn Pharmaceuticals stating that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received Akorn’s Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) containing a “Paragraph IV” patent certification seeking approval to market a generic version of Allergan’s Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% product. In addition, Allergan has received communication suggesting that additional ANDAs for generic versions of Restasis may have been received by the FDA.

The notice letter received from Akorn states that the “Paragraph IV” patent certification was made with respect to certain U.S. patents covering the formulation and method of use of the Restasis product, which are listed in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. Allergan states that it has five Orange Book-listed patents covering Restasis that are scheduled to expire in August 2024.

Allergan is highly confident in its intellectual property rights relating to Restasis and intends to vigorously enforce such rights in all applicable venues.