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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080818/AQM048)
Biosyntrx's Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer, EllenTroyer stated: "We are pleased to be the company to introduce this amazingtechnology to the ophthalmic and optometric community. We have identified morethan 50 peer-reviewed studies that suggest a direct correlation between excessweight and an increased risk for each of the four major vision loss orblinding diseases: cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-relatedmacular degeneration. Eye care practices of all descriptions now have asimple, safe and effective tool to offer their patients as they strive toaddress lifestyle issues that affect eye health."
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SWELL is a proprietary pre-meal gastric bulking agent invented by RichardC. Davis, MD, the founder and CEO/CSO of a number of companies familiar to theophthalmic and other medical specialty markets. Two of Dr. Davis' companieshave been publicly traded. They include OccuLogix(R), Inc., and UroQuest(R)Medical Corporation.
The Technology: SWELL, the hydrogel material in Avantrx is a member ofthe same chemical class as other bio-inert polyacrylate hydrogel compoundsthat are marketable under the FDA's 1994 GRAS ("generally recognized as safe")exemption and which have been extensively used worldwide for decades in a widevariety of products including: medical devices and food and pharmaceuticalapplications. The basic chemical molecule is similar to the polyacrylate usedin intraocular lenses; bio-inert, non-absorbable and non-reactive.
Mechanism of Action: Each microbead has the remarkable ability to gentlyexpand up to 1,000 times its size in the stomach when activated by water.When taken 45 to 60 minutes prior to meals along with an 8-12 oz glass of roomtemperature water, the hundreds of microbeads in each capsule collectivelyexpand within minutes to fill a volume the size of a large apple. Theexpanded microbeads have a very slippery gel-like consistency much like caviarand promote a sense of early satiety (fullness) with the initiation of themeal. The indigestible bio-inert microbeads are retained in the stomach for 2to 3 hours; then safely pass through the GI tract and are eliminated naturally-- without any known harmful side effects.
Clinical Evidence: A promising multi-center clinical trial that evaluated30 overweight volunteers at four physician-managed weight loss clinics wasrecently completed on SWELL. While not definitive, the study's resultsdemonstrated that the technology enabled the participants to comfortablyreduce meal portions by an average of 34% and documented steady progressiveweight loss averaging 7.6 pounds over the 4 week study period -- without anysignificant side effects being reported. Additional studies are being plannedto evaluate the safety and efficacy of SWELL in adolescent children and adultswith Type-2 Diabetes.
Lior Sher, Wellosophy's CEO stated: "We are delighted to work withBiosyntrx in their efforts to assist the ophthalmic and optometric communitiesin their efforts to help patients lose excess weight that increases the riskof developing degenerative eye disease."
About Biosyntrx: Biosyntrx Corporation is a privately held evidence-basedocular-focused nutraceutical company founded by 3 individuals with more than90 years experience in ophthalmics, me
