Two new U.S. Patents issued to CooperVision Pharmaceuticals for its calcium channel blocker.IRVINE, Calif.--(HealthWire)--July 24, 1995--CooperVision Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of The Cooper Companies Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :COO) today announced the issuance of two patents relating to its clinical studies with verapamil verapamil /ve·rap·a·mil/ (ve-rap´ah-mil) a calcium channel blocker that dilates coronary arteries and decreases myocardial oxygen demand, used as the hydrochloride salt in the treatment of angina pectoris and of hypertension and the ophthalmic solution (CalOptic(TM)), a class I calcium channel blocker calcium channel blocker n. Any of a class of drugs that inhibit movement of calcium ions across a cell membrane, used in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. . The patents focus on class I calcium channel blockers' ability to increase bloodflow to the optic nerve head. The first patent (U.S. Patent No. 5,435,998) covers the treatment of low-tension glaucoma by topical administration of class I calcium channel blocking agents. The second patent (U.S. Patent No. 5,431,907) covers the treatment of certain vascular disorders of the posterior segment of the eye by topical administration of class I calcium channel blockers Calcium Channel Blockers Definition Calcium channel blockers are medicines that slow the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. . CooperVision Pharmaceuticals obtained in 1990 the exclusive rights to a patent for the treatment of hypertensive glaucoma by the topical administration of calcium channel blockers for lowering intraocular pressure. In the June 1995 American Journal of Ophthamology, an article reported on a color doppler ultrasound analysis to investigate the effect of CalOptic on the retrobulbar retrobulbar /ret·ro·bul·bar/ (-bul´bar) 1. behind the medulla oblongata. 2. behind the eyeball. retrobulbar 1. behind the pons. 2. behind the eyeball. hemodynamics hemodynamics /he·mo·dy·nam·ics/ (-di-nam´iks) the study of the movements of blood and of the forces concerned.hemodynam´ic he·mo·dy·nam·ics n. . The article suggests that in addition to lowering intraocular pressure, CalOptic reduces the vascular resistance index in the central retinal artery Central retinal artery A branch of the ophthalmic artery that supplies blood to the retina and branches to form the arterioles of the retina. Mentioned in: Retinal Artery Occlusion which supplies the retina with blood. Gregory A. Fryling, president of CooperVision Pharmaceuticals, stated, "We believe that CalOptic's pharmacological activity is consistent with the type of response that could have a beneficial effect on normotensive normotensive /nor·mo·ten·sive/ (-ten´siv) 1. characterized by normal tone, tension, or pressure, as by normal blood pressure. 2. a person with normal blood pressure. and hypertensive glaucoma patients, as one of its attributes relates to the enhancement of bloodflow. The real issue in the progression of glaucoma is more than intraocular pressure; it is the loss of visual fields." As was discussed in May 1995 at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthamology, many ophthamologists believe that enhanced bloodflow to the posterior segment of the eye would have a beneficial effect on limiting the visual field loss associated with glaucoma. CooperVision Pharmaceuticals Inc. is pursuing licensing arrangements with selected strategic partners to obtain assistance in the worldwide development and future commercialization of CalOptic. When such a partner is obtained, the company intends to design future clinical studies to explore the extent of CalOptic's impact on visual fields in addition to the surrogate clinical endpoint of intraocular pressure reduction. The Cooper Companies Inc. and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market specialty healthcare products and services. CooperVision Pharmaceuticals Inc., headquartered in Irvine, Calif., develops ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. CooperVision Inc., also headquartered in Irvine, with additional manufacturing facilities in Huntington Beach, Calif., Rochester, N.Y., and Ontario, Canada, markets a range of contact lenses for the vision care market. CooperSurgical Inc., located in Shelton, Conn. markets diagnostic and surgical instruments and accessories for the gynecological market. Hospital Group of America Inc. provides psychiatric services through hospitals in Illinois List of hospitals in Illinois (U.S. state), sorted by hospital name.
CONTACT: The Cooper Companies Inc. Norris Battin 714/673-4299 or D.F. King & Co. Inc. Jeffrey D. Bogart David B. Frank 212/269-5550 |
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