title: Description of Ophthalmic Pharmaceutical and Device Start-Up Companies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the number, type and location of ophthalmic companies and their associated product areas and indications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, non-patient-based, observational review of ophthalmic pharmaceutical and device companies with a new product in development. Data was compiled by Internet searches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 190 companies currently developing ophthalmic products: 134 (71%) were privately held and 56 (29%) publicly held, while 136 (72%) were in the United States and 53 (28%) were outside the United States. There were 436 total products of which 338 (78%) were pharmaceuticals and 98 (22%) devices. With pharmaceuticals we identified 46 separate indications with age-related macular degeneration (n = 75), glaucoma (n = 52) and dry eye (n = 46) as most common; anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, hormone therapy and anti-inflammatory products were also common classes. With devices there were 30 indications with glaucoma (n = 26), age-related macular degeneration (n = 19) and dry eye (n = 6) as most common; drug delivery, ocular implants and prostheses were less common classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ophthalmology as a specialty is benefited by a wide effort in new medicine and device development. However, a concentration of effort into relatively few indications suggests a potential lack of market analysis and possible difficulty for many companies in commercializing their product.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C., USA.
authors.forename: R Allan
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: Jennifer P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kruft
authors.forename: Lindsay A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Jeanette A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D018795:Device Approval; D004345:Drug Industry; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005602:France; D007557:Israel; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations