Recent progress on the US regulatory front is generating renewed interest in device-based glaucoma therapies, which potentially could grow to a multibillion-dollar industry. The list of companies targeting this space continues to expand, as does the variety of potential device-based solutions: the current pipeline includes several innovative and less invasive products and technologies designed to improve surgical outcomes, a growing number of advanced drug-delivery inserts to address the patient noncompliance issue that is so common in this arena, and some unique patient monitoring devices.

This Month's Profile Group, Atrial Fibrillation Agents: Better Drugs For The Arrhythmic Heart, features profiles of Acesion Pharma, ChanRx, Milestone Pharmaceuticals and Serodus. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: Loma Vista Medical, Ra Pharmaceuticals and Solx.

The gold standard for treating refractory glaucoma, trabeculectomy creates an artificial pathway to relieve intraocular pressure by forming an external bleb or blister under the eyelid so that aqueous humor fluid can drain from inside the eye to the bleb. Solx Inc. has developed an implantable device that improves on that method. The Solx Gold Shunt is a flat tube that detours fluid within the eye by using an existing pathway (the suprachoroidal space) that gradually shuts down as one ages. The shunt reconnects and reinvigorates this outflow pathway.

START-UP's monthly comprehensive review of emerging life science companies that have received venture funding during the month, including companies within the in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, research/analytical equipment & supplies, and medical device sectors.