WestGroupe Appoints Alexis Nyiro Director of Product and Marketing

WestGroupe announces the promotion of Alexis Nyiro to Director of Product and Marketing. In this role, Alexis will be responsible for leading the product and marketing teams at WestGroupe in order to ensure a consistent creative vision, as well as spearheading strong marketing programs for our sales team and customers. Since joining WestGroupe 11 years ago, Alexis has been instrumental in the design and development of WestGroupe’s product portfolio and has been an integral part of marketing their brands over the years.

“Alexis is the perfect person to take the helm of our product and marketing teams. She has a true understanding and appreciation of the DNA of our brands, a strong knowledge of current marketing trends and a keen eye for what resonates with our customers. As important, she has a proven track record of building, mentoring and empowering her team so we are excited to see those results within our marketing department,” says WestGroupe’s Vice President of Product Development and Creative Director, Beverly Suliteanu.

Source: WestGroupe

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020

Companies Nominated at the 27th Silmo d’Or

FRAME TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

BRETT with « QSTOM »

FROST Eyewear with « JUPiTER »

QUIKSILVER with « INTERACTION »

CHILDREN

BAMBINOCLE with « Yo² »

JF REY with « LOLLY 5570 » – JF REY Kids & Teens

LAFONT with « HUGO » – Lafont Enfants

LUNETTES GRASSET ASSOCIES with « BE158 » – Bensimon

OPAL with « ELAM010 C65» – Elevenparis Boys & Girls

SPORT

BOLLÉ with « CHRONOSHIELD »

CÉBÉ with « S’TRACK 2.0 »

MARCOLIN with « COMPETITION SP0001 » – adidas

VISION

BOLLÉ with « VOLT+ »

ESSILOR with « Varilux Comfort Max »

HOYA with « HOYA MiYOSMART VISION »

MATERIAL / EQUIPMENT

ESW Vision with « tearcheck®»

LUNEAU Technology with « e-Eye Refract VX25 »

NOVACEL with « MASTER XX (HPE-910) »

TOPCON with « MYAH »

SAARGOS with « QuickSee »

Click HERE for the full press release.

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020

Transitions and OSI Group Announce Get Connected @ Home with Transitions® Promotion

Transitions Optical and OSI Group have partnered to launch a joint contest, Get Connected @ Home with Transitions^® lenses, to promote Transitions lens products during the months of August through October. The contest is open to all OSI Clinic locations and their patients across Canada.

Once registered for the contest, OSI Group Clinics are encouraged to dispense any Transitions lens product, including Transitions^® Signature^® GEN 8^™ lenses (including Transitions Signature^® GEN 8™ Style Colors), Transitions^® XTRActive^® lenses (including Transitions XTRActive Style Mirrors) and Transitions^® Vantage^® lenses. In doing so, both OSI Group clinics and their patients have an opportunity to win a selection of exciting technology-focused prizes. Patients who purchase Transitions lenses at a participating clinic are eligible to enter the monthly prize draws by registering their Transitions lens purchase on-line using a unique contest code. Monthly prizes will also be awarded to the OSI clinics and staff with the highest number of patient entries. Additionally, four grand prizes (gift cards) will be awarded to patients at the end of the contest. The gift cards can be redeemed for eyewear and other various accessories at the OSI clinic where their Transitions lenses were purchased.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 a challenging year for everyone, and the eye care industry is no exception. At Transitions Optical, we are committed to helping our partners support a strong recovery and we are proud to collaborate with the OSI Group to offer additional value to their members and their patients.” said Christine Zeggil, National Key Account Executive for Transitions Canada.

“We are committed to the advancement of independent optometry in Canada by offering our members innovative solutions and exclusive promotions to help them grow their business and keep the focus on patients’ eye health and vision care. Compelling promotions like this one with Transitions Optical create momentum at the clinic level and reward members during these challenging times,” said Patrice Lacoste, President and CEO of the OSI Group.

Click HERE for the full press release.

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020

Bausch Health to Acquire Option to Purchase Allegro Ophthalmics Assets

Bausch Health Companies Inc. and Bausch + Lomb and Allegro Ophthalmics a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies that regulate integrin functions for the treatment of ocular diseases, announced that Bausch Health has entered into an agreement to acquire an option to purchase all ophthalmology assets of Allegro, including global rights for risuteganib (Luminate®), Allegro’s lead investigational compound in retina, which is believed to simultaneously act on various pathways implicated in intermediate dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Globally, the prevalence of AMD is expected to reach 196 million people this year and to increase to 288 million by 2040. Approximately 90% of people diagnosed with AMD have dry AMD, for which there are currently no treatments.

“As part of the ongoing transformation of Bausch Health, we continue to seek strategic opportunities to build-up our pipeline in core businesses, including Bausch + Lomb, our global eye health business. The addition of the ophthalmic assets of Allegro would significantly enhance our comprehensive portfolio of products for AMD,” said Joseph C. Papa, chairman and CEO of Bausch Health. “If approved, risuteganib may be the first treatment indicated to help reverse vision loss due to dry AMD and would address a significant unmet medical need affecting millions of people globally.”

Vicken Karageozian, M.D., president and CEO, Allegro said, “As we prepare for our Phase 3 clinical program, we look forward to working closely with Bausch Health on the united goal of one day being able to offer a treatment option to the millions of people who are currently losing their vision to dry AMD.”

Risuteganib is an investigational integrin-regulating therapy that is believed to reduce mitochondrial dysfunction involved in intermediate dry AMD. By targeting multiple pathways, risuteganib may help reduce the cellular burden of oxidative stress and restore retinal homeostasis. Two concurrent Phase 3 studies evaluating the use of intravitreal risuteganib to treat intermediate dry AMD are expected to begin within the next 12 months.

Other ophthalmology assets of Allegro include a topical agent under investigation for the treatment of dry eye disease currently in Phase 2 development.

Click HERE for the full press release.

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020

HOYA Announces Ahmos Henry’s Departure

After six years as the president of HOYA Vision Care Canada, Ahmos Henry announced his resignation with the company to accept another position as the CEO of Clear Medical Imaging based in Windsor, Ontario. Ahmos joined HOYA in January 2014 where he was tasked with driving growth and innovation in the service platforms and product portfolio. He achieved those growth goals and exceeded expectations in the role.

During his time with HOYA, Ahmos has successfully transitioned the business to become one of the fastest growing companies in the optical industry. He has repositioned HOYA Vision Care Canada as a market leader by focusing on the technology and value of the brand.

Under his leadership, the company undertook a number of key growth initiatives. Among them was the implementation of various programs including the iD LifeStyle 3 “24-hour service”. Ahmos has also completed various acquisitions to help strengthen the infrastructure and provide eye care professionals with more options to better support their patients.

Before his departure, Ahmos Henry stated “It was a very difficult decision to leave the optical industry to venture into a new direction in my career when I consider both HOYA and the most amazing team that I have ever worked with. With that said, I have to add that I may be leaving the optical industry, but the optical industry will never leave me.”

Bernard Lecavalier has been designated as the interim replacement who will assume Ahmos’ responsibilities in Canada until a permanent replacement has been chosen. Bernard holds an MBA degree coupled with a Bachelor of Science from University of Montreal and Université du Québec à Montréal. He has over 21 years experience in sales, training and sales management in the medical, optical and pharmaceutical field and has worked with HOYA since 2007.

Click HERE for the full press release.