Newsroom
Honors Bausch & Lomb for Developing Retisert
FOR RELEASE
Monday, August 1, 2005
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.,
or NORD, recently presented its Corporate Achievement Award to Bausch &
Lomb for making "a significant contribution toward improving the lives of
people affected by rare diseases."
NORD honored Bausch & Lomb for the development of Retisert the world's first intravitreal drug implant for the treatment of chronic non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye, a sight-threatening inflammatory disease that primarily afflicts people between the ages 20 and 50, during their prime working years. Designated an orphan disease, this devastating condition affects an estimated 175,000 people in the United States and an estimated 800,000 people worldwide.
"With this Corporate Achievement Award, NORD salutes Bausch & Lomb for developing this innovative drug-delivery therapy to treat people suffering from this chronic, severe blinding disease," said Abbey S. Meyers, president - National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
Bausch & Lomb's patented drug-delivery microtechnology in Retisert consists of a tiny drug reservoir designed to deliver sustained levels of the well-known anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, fluocinolone acetonide, for approximately two-and-a-half years (30 months) directly to the back of the eye. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April, Bausch & Lomb's Retisert is now available in the United States.
NORD is a non-profit organization, based in Danbury, Conn., that helps patients and families affected by rare disorders through education programs, advocacy, research grants and fellowships, and medication assistance to help uninsured or under-insured patients obtain certain medications. More information about NORD is available at www.rarediseases.org.
Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Bausch & Lomb's 2004 revenues were $2.2 billion; it employs approximately 12,400 people worldwide and its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the Company can be found on the Bausch & Lomb Web site at www.bausch.com . Copyright Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
® / TM denote trademarks of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
