ALL:
Came across some interesting info this weekend I wanted to share.
In a 12/24/90 Boston Globe article a Dr. Kraff who recently began performing laser sculpting says of the original Summit laser, "The initial results are very encouraging, and I'm enthusiatic about the procedure. I think it has the potential to change the delivery
of eye care as we know it today," he said in an interview.
Dow Jones on 10/24/95, when shares of Summit closed at$42.50,mentions one of the surgery centers to perform this procedure as part of the FDA approval process was the Kraff Eye Institute. Dr. Kraff goes on to state, "Wearers of corrective lenses will need either deep pockets- to cover the estimated $2000 per eye cost- or a very generous health insurance plan to pay for this elective treatment. We don't forsee insurers jumping on the bandwagen to pay for this procedure." Dr. Kraff was prescient, as the high cost, in part, has been keeping potential patients of VISX/BEAM away, as evidenced by their lower than expected market penetration estimates Pre-FDA approval.
Business Wire, 11/09/90.
VISX talks about their enrollment of patients in their Phase II-B
clinical studies, then goes on to state: "Dr. Peter McDonald, director
of the cornea service at the Doheny Eye Institute at the Univ. of
Southern CA. performed the first area ablation procedure for the correction of astigmatism. McDonald, who is one of the company's
principal investigators, reported his preliminary results at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthamology, held in Atlanta last week.
WELL SUNRISER'S, guess who two of the principal investigators in the
Phase II, and now Phase III clinical trails are?
None other then Dr's Kraff and McDonnell, both of whom were principal
investigator's for VISX & Summit FDA approval. Am I reading too much
into this, or does this indicate FDA approval for the YAG.Holmium, a
safer procedure than excimer, is basically a foregone conclusion.
Does this info, combined with Nanny's report, the Red Chip & PA. Merchant Group research, say anything?
IMHO, it's a forgone MOONSHOT by mid-1999/2000.
Regards,
Skane
P.S. Pardon my enthusiasm, but the thought of SNRS at $35+ makes
me salivate. |
