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Coronado Industries Pleased With Success After Two Year Follow Up With Study Patients; 52% Were Able to Discontinue Medication, While 48% Reduced Medication By Half
Coronado Industries Pleased With Success After Two Year Follow Up With
Study Patients; 52% Were Able to Discontinue Medication, While 48%
Reduced Medication By Half
FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz., Jan 6, 2000 (BW HealthWire) -- Coronado
Industries Inc. (OTC BB:CDIK) (www.coronadoindustries.com) announced
today that after a two year follow-up with patients of the Arizona
Glaucoma Institute's Pneumatic Trabeculoplasty study, 52 percent of the
patients treated were able to discontinue their use of medication and
still maintain the same intraocular pressure or have it lowered.
The other 48 percent were able to reduce their medication by 50
percent.
"This is fabulous," says Gary Smith, president of Coronado Industries,
Inc. "Some patients that were newly diagnosed as having glaucoma never
needed to start medications. Others that were taking two drops per day,
and were ready to start a third, went down to zero or one. Several
patients that were scheduled for a laser procedure were able to control
their pressure without it."
"Let me explain why this is so important," continued Smith. "Glaucoma
is the second leading cause of blindness. The most common treatment is
medication in drop form. Unfortunately, these drops have devastating
side effects. Not all suffer from these side effects, of course,
however, the risk is clearly present."
Information available through the American Academy of Ophthalmology
gives an example of commonly used medications and their noted side
effects. These medications are broken down into different groups.
This is only a random sampling from their list:
Topical Beta Blocker
(Selective) Beta 1 Blocker
Betaxolol (Betoptic or Betoptic S) Manufactured by Alcon
Topical Beta Blockers (Non Selective)
Timolol (Timoptic) Manufactured by Merck (NYSE:MRK)
Levobunolol (Betagan) Manufactured by Allergan (NYSE:AGN)
Side Effects of Topical Beta Blocker: Congestive heart failure;
Bronchospasm; Bradycardia; Depression; Confusion; Impotence; Worsening
of myasthenia gravis
Topical Adrenergic Agonists
Alphagan Manufactured by Allergan (NYSE:AGN)
Zalatan Manufactured by Pharmacia-Upjohn (NYSE:PNU)
Side Effects of Topical Adrenergic Agonists: (Systemic) Increased
Blood Pressure; Tachyarrhythmia; Tremor; Headache; Anxiety. (Ocular)
Burning on Instillation; Conjunctival injection; Pupullary dialation;
Allergic reactions.
Topical Cholinergic Agonists (Short Acting)
Pilocarpine (Drops & Gel) Manufactured by MGI Pharma
(NASDAQ: MOGN)
Side Effects of Topical Cholinergic Agonists: (Systemic) Increased
Bronchial secretion; Nausea; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Apnea *with
aceleylcholinestase inhibitors after succinylcholine administration.
(Ocular) Increased myopia; Eye or brow pain; Decreased vision.
"Now, please do not misunderstand, these drops are effective and
important in the fight against glaucoma. However, they do come with
risk," said Smith. "Our PNT(TM) procedure has been very successful in
the majority of patients treated over the last five years, without any
adverse side effects reported to date. This is why we are so excited to
be in a position to help these people and lower the risk of treatment
is a very exciting possibility. When our FDA approval process is
complete we feel PNT(TM) and our equipment will be the choice of the
future," added Smith.
Approximately 66.8 million people worldwide suffer from primary
glaucoma according to a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
study. Glaucoma is a progressive disease and is the second leading
cause of blindness. Over 7.5 million Americans suffer from glaucoma.
Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged by high intraocular
pressure (IOP). The optic nerve is responsible for sending impulses to
the brain, which translates those signals into sight. When the nerve is
damaged, the signals cease to be transmitted and loss of vision occurs.
Currently, patients rely on eye drops or surgery to lower IOP. Coronado
Industries' PNT(TM) technology is a non-invasive medical procedure that
lessens, if not eliminates patients' dependence on drops without the
risk and cost of surgery.
Applicable to open-angle and pigmentary glaucoma, the two most common
types of glaucoma, PNT(TM) uses a suction device that is applied to the
eye for one to two minuets. The treatment is proven safe and effective
with no known side effects and is less costly than traditional
therapies.
Often one treatment is sufficient, but there is no risk in subsequent
treatments if needed, as frequently as every three months.
Evaluation of approximately four years of data from an ongoing study of
patients receiving PNT(TM) has shown the procedure, originally designed
to treat Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), pigmentary glaucoma and
glaucoma associated with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule, is of
value in treating ocular hypertension, as well.
Safe Harbor Statement
The statements contained in this release which are not historical are
forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited
to, certain delays beyond the company's control with respect to market
acceptance of new technologies and products, delays in testing and
evaluation of products, and other risks detailed from time to time in
the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Coronado Industries, through its two wholly owned subsidiaries American
Glaucoma and Ophthalmic International, manufactures devices to treat
forms of glaucoma and offers glaucoma diagnosis and treatment under an
I.D.E Study (Investigational Device Exemption).
Pending FDA approval, Coronado will license its patented treatment
procedure and equipment in the United States. Coronado's Pneumatic
Trabeculoplasty (PNT(TM)) procedure uses a non-invasive, patented,
low-cost pneumatic device that has proven to be an effective and safe
treatment option for glaucoma.
In December 1998, Coronado was granted a CE Mark from the European
Commission, which serves as a "passport" to allow a manufacturer to
freely sell its products within the European Marketplace.
Copyright (C) 2000 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
Distributed via COMTEX.
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CONTACT: Coronado Industries Inc., Fountain Hills
G. Richard Smith, Chief Executive Officer, 480/837-6810
or
Market Pathways
Shannon T. Squyres, President, 949/955-1860
WEB PAGE: businesswire.com
GEOGRAPHY: ARIZONA
INDUSTRY CODE: MEDICAL
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