New US$26.35 Million
Collaboration Seeks Prevention and Treatment Solutions to Address
Rising Burden of Condition
SINGAPORE, Nov. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), the Singapore Eye Research
Institute (SERI) and Johnson & Johnson Vision today announced a
US$26.35 million (S$36.35 million) research collaboration to tackle
myopia, or nearsighted vision, the largest threat to eye health
this century.1,2,3 By 2050, half of the
world's population are projected to be myopic, with one billion
expected to have high myopia, a severe state of the condition that
can lead to retinal disease with an increased risk of
blindness.1
The first-of-its-kind public-private strategic partnership in
Asia focused on myopia will create
a deeper understanding of how the condition develops, how it
progresses and how it may be intercepted. It will focus on
developing predictive tools to identify those who may be at risk to
develop high myopia, conduct research on the underlying mechanisms
of myopia, progress novel therapies, and discover and validate
methods to prevent the onset and progression of the condition.
"The incidence of myopia is increasing at an alarming rate
around the world and if left unchecked, the human and financial
toll could skyrocket in the coming decades, especially in
Asia," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the
Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson &
Johnson.
"We are delighted to be collaborating with SERI and SNEC to
better understand the underpinnings of this condition and identify
ways to halt this global public health threat," he said. "Together,
we hope to bring important progress to individuals and families
throughout the Asia Pacific region
and ultimately, around the world."
"Documented increases in myopia, especially among young people,
are a serious concern and if we can understand the underlying
mechanisms that are contributing to its rapid rise, we can work to
tackle the problem at its roots," said Professor Aung Tin, Executive Director of SERI. "SERI
is strongly committed to collaborating with leading companies to
address eye diseases, and we are excited to be embarking on this
research collaboration to break new ground against the
epidemic."
According to Professor Wong Tien
Yin, Medical Director at the SNEC, the collaboration
will bring together the right mix of resources, clinical and
scientific experience, and intellect to create a leading centre for
myopia research, clinical care and education practices designed to
contribute substantially to regional and global efforts to fight
the condition. "SNEC is honored to be working with collaborators
coming together to address the growing burden of myopia," Professor
Wong said. "By leveraging the diverse strengths of our clinicians,
clinician scientists and strategic partners to establish new
disease frameworks and share this knowledge across world
communities to help eradicate myopia."
Myopia is the number one eye defect in the
world.1,2 Myopia increases risk of
retinal degeneration and detachment, cataracts and glaucoma.
Unchecked, it will become the leading cause of irreversible vision
impairment and blindness.1 The condition occurs when the
eyeball becomes elongated due to environmental and genetic
factors.4 Few modalities are currently approved by
regulatory bodies to control myopia.
Significant Burden Projected Worldwide, With Biggest
Impact in Asia
- Five billion people globally are expected to have myopia by
2050.1
- Western Europe, Central Europe and Eastern Europe are expected to be
significantly impacted with the prevalence of myopia expected to
grow to 56%, 54% and 50% respectively by
2050.1
- In North Africa and the
Middle East prevalence is
predicted to be 52.2%.10
- East Asia and Singapore will shoulder the greatest impact,
with current prevalence rates among young people as high as 80 to
97 percent concentrated in urban areas.5
- Children are most vulnerable. For example, in China, among children ages six to 18, myopia
prevalence rises from less than 10 to 80 percent.6
Children who go on to develop high myopia are at a high risk for a
lifetime of severe eye disease and permanent vision
loss.7
- In Singapore, one in two
children develop myopia by the age of 128, and 75
percent of teenagers are myopic and rely on
glasses.9
- Uncorrected distance refractive errors, largely caused by
myopia, are already estimated to cost global healthcare systems
US$202 billion annually1
and this cost will rise exponentially with increased prevalence and
severity of myopia in coming decades.
- In Singapore alone, the annual
direct cost of optical correction of myopia for Singaporeans has
been estimated at US$755 million
(S$1.04
billion).10
Due to the complexity and scale of myopia, halting the epidemic
will require a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses novel
clinical research as well as innovations in education and clinical
care. SNEC, SERI and Johnson & Johnson Vision intend to build
on these efforts and convene other stakeholders to support
broad-based strategies.
Johnson & Johnson Vision brings to this initiative deep
expertise in optometry and ophthalmology backed by the strength,
capabilities and reach of the Johnson & Johnson Family of
Companies, which are committed to solving complex global public
health challenges. SERI and SNEC have a strong track record of
high-impact eye research and excellence in clinical care that has
paved the way for improvements in how eye diseases are detected,
prevented and treated in Singapore, across Asia and on a global scale.
About the Strategic Partnership
The US$26.35 million (S$36.35 million) program is a collaboration
between Johnson & Johnson Vision and the Singapore Eye Research
Institute (SERI), which is the research arm of the Singapore
National Eye Centre (SNEC), over three years. Johnson & Johnson
Vision is making a US$15.78 million
(S$21.77 million) investment,
comprising cash and in-kind contributions, while SERI's investment
is US$10.57 million (S$14.58 million) in cash and in-kind
contributions.
Johnson & Johnson Vision
At Johnson & Johnson Vision, we have a bold ambition: to
change the trajectory of eye health around the world. Through our
operating companies, we deliver innovation that enables eye care
professionals to create better outcomes for patients throughout
their lives, with products and technologies that address unmet
needs including refractive error, cataracts and dry eye. In
communities with greatest need, we work in collaboration to expand
access to quality eye care, and we are committed to helping people
see better, connect better and live better. Visit us at
www.jjvision.com. Follow @JNJVision on Twitter and Johnson &
Johnson Vision on LinkedIn.
Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI)
Established in 1997, SERI is Singapore's national research institute for
ophthalmic and vision research. SERI's mission is to conduct high
impact eye research with the aim to prevent blindness, low vision
and major eye diseases common to Singaporeans and Asians. SERI has
grown from a founding team of five in 1997 to a faculty of 194,
encompassing clinician scientists, scientists, research fellows,
PhD students and support staff. This makes SERI one of the largest
research institutes in Singapore
and the largest eye research institute in Asia-Pacific. In addition, SERI has over 218
adjunct faculties from various eye departments, biomedical
institutes and tertiary centres in Singapore.
SERI has amassed an impressive array of more than 3,295
scientific papers as of September
2018, and has secured more than S$307.9 million in external peer-reviewed
competitive grants. To date, SERI's faculty has been awarded more
than 493 national and international prizes and filed more than 121
patents. Serving as the research institute of the Singapore
National Eye Centre and affiliated to the Duke-NUS Medical School,
National University of Singapore, SERI
undertakes vision research in collaboration with local clinical
ophthalmic centres and biomedical research institutions, as well as
major eye centres and research institutes throughout the world.
Today, SERI is recognized as a pioneering center for high quality
eye research in Asia, with
breakthrough discoveries that has translated to significant
paradigm shift in eye care delivery. Visit us at
www.seri.com.sg.
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
Singapore National Eye Centre was incorporated in 1989 and
commenced operations in 1990. It is the designated national centre
within the public sector healthcare network, and spearheads and
coordinates the provision of specialised ophthalmological services
with emphasis on quality education and research. Since its opening
in 1990, SNEC has achieved rapid growth and currently manages an
annual workload of 330,000 outpatient visits, 34,000 major eye
surgeries and laser procedures.
Ten subspecialties in Cataract, Cataract and Comprehensive
Ophthalmology, Corneal and External Eye Disease, Glaucoma,
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Oculoplastic and Aesthetic Eyeplastic,
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Refractive Surgery, Ocular
Inflammation and Immunology and Retina (Medical & Surgical)
have been established to provide a full range of eye treatment from
comprehensive to tertiary levels for the entire spectrum of eye
conditions.
SNEC was accorded the Excellence for Singapore Award in 2003 for
achieving excellence in the area of Ophthalmology, thrusting
Singapore into international
prominence. In 2006, SNEC received the first Minister for Health
Award for public health. Three clinician scientists from Singapore
National Eye Centre and Singapore Eye Research Institute were
awarded the prestigious President's Science and Technology Award in
2009, 2010 and 2014 for their outstanding contributions in
translational, clinical and epidemiological research in cornea,
retina and glaucoma. Visit us at www.snec.com.sg.
© Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd 2018
1 Holden et al Ophthalmol 2016; 123: 1036
2 Fricke et al Ophthalmol 2018; 125(10):1492-1499
3 Internal data on file
4 Fredrick, D. R. (2002). Myopia. BMJ, 324(7347),
1195-1199. doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7347.1195
5 Ding et al Survey of Ophthalmol 2015.
6 Taiwan, Lin et al
2000 Ann Acad Med Singapore 2004; 33:27-33
7 Chua et al Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2016; 36 388–394
8 SingHealth, Eye Check A look at common eye
conditions
9 HealthXchange, Common Eye Problems by Age Group, Stats
and Care Tips
10 The Impact of Myopia and High Myopia: report of the
Joint World Health Organization – Brien Holden Vision Institute
Global Scientific Meeting on Myopia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 16–18 March 2015 Pages
10-11
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