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April 15, 2021April 15, 2021

Novartis Canada Named a Top 50 Best Workplace in the Country

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada has been recognized as a Great Place to Work^® and announces that Novartis in Canada has earned a spot on the “Top 50 Best Workplaces^™” in the country. Novartis has also been named on the 2021 list of Best Workplaces^™ for Women, a designation that speaks to the organization’s inclusive and equitable work environment.

The Top 50 Best Workplaces™ list is curated based on analyzed responses from thousands of individuals from organizations in Canada with more than 1,000 employees working in Canada or worldwide.

“What makes me very proud about these designations is that it is our associates who provide their feedback, and they are telling us that our ‘care in leadership’ approach is appreciated. Our leaders didn’t underestimate the challenges that were faced in 2020 and focused on prioritizing the wellbeing of our associates to ensure, among other things, work-life balance. I would like to express my gratitude to the team for their steadfast dedication to reimagining medicine and continuing to deliver for patients no matter what,” said Christian Macher, Country President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.

The highly respected recognition program run by the Great Place to Work^® Institute gathers and evaluates employee feedback and acknowledges companies who have built high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. The list evaluates like-sized companies from across Canada that are measured against criteria designed to identify those that are exceptional places to work. Novartis associates were surveyed and gave feedback on the following five areas: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

Click HERE for the full press release.

April 15, 2021May 20, 2026

Cinzia Builds on Its High-Fashion Women’s Collection

Eyewear is a part of how the world sees you. Cinzia takes that choice very seriously. Cinzia eyewear favors personal style over chasing fads, with frames designed to emanate confidence, for the woman unafraid to make her mark. The Cinzia-5122 offers pure glamour, soft sultriness, or ethereal goddess vibes depending on the colourway you choose.

Distributed by Europa: www.europaeyewear.ca

April 15, 2021April 14, 2021

Bausch + Lomb Announces Results from First Phase 3 Trial of NOV03

Bausch + Lomb and Novaliq, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics, announced statistically significant topline data from the first Phase 3 trial (GOBI trial) evaluating the investigational drug NOV03 (perfluorohexyloctane) as a first-in-class eye drop with a novel mechanism of action to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

The GOBI trial met both of its co-primary endpoints, including:

Change from baseline in total Corneal Fluorescein Staining (tCFS), a measure of assessing damage to the eye, achieved statistical significance at day 15 (secondary endpoint), with continued results through day 57 (primary endpoint) compared to control;
Change from baseline in dryness score achieved statistical significance at day 15 (secondary endpoint), with continued results through day 57 (primary endpoint) compared to control, as rated on a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0-100 (0 = no discomfort; 100 = maximum discomfort).

The GOBI trial also met all of its secondary endpoints, showing statistically significant improvements in both the signs and symptoms of DED associated with MGD that were studied.

“There is currently no pharmaceutical therapy available in the United States for the treatment of dry eye disease associated with meibomian gland dysfunction,” said Yolande Barnard, vice president and general manager, U.S. Pharmaceuticals, Bausch + Lomb. “These outstanding topline results are very encouraging that we may be able to bring this first-in-class treatment option to market for the millions of patients who have dry eye disease associated with meibomian gland dysfunction.”

“I am very impressed by the positive results from this first Phase 3 study of NOV03, in particular the findings at day 15 in treating the signs and symptoms of the disease,” said Joseph Tauber, M.D., founder of Tauber Eye Center in Kansas City, Mo., and trial investigator. “These findings validate the importance of the continued development of NOV03, and I look forward to seeing additional results from the Phase 3 program.”

The Phase 3 program for NOV03 includes an ongoing second Phase 3, multi-center, randomized, double-masked, saline-controlled trial (MOJAVE study) and a multi-center, open-label, single-arm 12-month safety extension trial (KALAHARI study). Topline results from MOJAVE, if positive, will allow for a filing to the U.S Food and Drug Administration in 2022.

Click HERE for the full press release.

April 14, 2021March 3, 2021

Gene Therapy Approach to Regenerate Damaged Optic Nerves

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have used gene therapy to regenerate damaged optic nerves in the eyes of mice, offering hope that this information could help in the development of new treatments for glaucoma.

The optic nerve isn’t normally able to heal once it is damaged, however research in the last few years has shown that it may be possible to stimulate nerves to regenerate.

In this study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists used a gene therapy approach to get nerve cells to make higher amounts of a protein called Protrudin. What they saw was that after optic nerve damage, nerve cells that were making more Protrudin were able to regrow the nerve, while cells without gene therapy didn’t regenerate.

April 13, 2021April 16, 2021

Carl Zeiss Vision Canada and WestGroupe announce donation to Optometry Giving Sight

Carl Zeiss Vision Canada and WestGroupe, through their sales in ValuePak Frame and Lens packages have donated over $110,000 to Optometry Giving Sight since 2016.

ValuePak offers frames from WestGroupe and synchrony® lens from Carl Zeiss Vision Canada.

“We are proud of our achievement together in partnership with WestGroupe and Optometry Giving Sight” said Bryan Rossi, President at Carl Zeiss Vision Canada. “One of our corporate pillars is sustainability, including social and green responsibility. We express our gratitude that we are able to offer support to those who are in need of eye care around the world.”

Michael Suliteanu, President, WestGroupe, said, “We cherish the opportunity to give back through our partnership with Carl Zeiss Vision, whereby a portion of every pair we sell is donated to such a significant initiative. Optometry Giving Sight not only reflects the value we place on sustainability and responsibility, but furthermore the humanistic duty that informs our industry—to provide sight and, consequently, quality of life to all.”

More information on the program is available on the ZEISS and WestGroupe websites.