Sirion Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held ophthalmic-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Advanced Vision Research, Inc (AVR) of Woburn, Massachusetts, to co-promote, within the US, AVR's new MacuTrition oral retinal nutritional supplement and its recently launched NutriDox Convenience Kit for meibomian gland therapy.

AVR is a privately held ophthalmic specialty company and manufacturer of the popular over-the counter TheraTears dry-eye product line. The Sirion sales force will promote MacuTrition and the NutriDox Convenience Kit and provide sampling for the TheraTears line.

"The partnership with Advanced Vision Research continues and expands our mission to offer diversified products that will make a real difference to ophthalmologists and their patients," said Barry Butler, president and CEO of Sirion. "MacuTrition, the NutriDox Convenience Kit and the TheraTears product line dovetail strongly with our own products in development for dry AMD, dry eye and other ocular conditions."

"Sirion and Advanced Vision Research share a joint focus on healthy eyes for patients through clinical research and innovation in ocular disease," commented Jeffrey P. Gilbard, M.D., AVR founder, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Gilbard is Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease Clinic at the New England Eye Center in Boston. "Sirion's resources and specialized sales force will be instrumental in helping AVR promote retinal and meibomian gland health and provide relief for dry-eye patients."

MacuTrition is the first major oral nutritional supplement that addresses oxidation, inflammation and neovascularization, three very important processes that threaten long-term eye and general health, and play a key role in those at risk for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

MacuTrition, available over-the-counter, is a combination of synergistic anti-oxidants, anti inflammatories and anti-angiogenics, including fish-oil omega-3s, vitamin D, green tea extract and to cotrienol (vitamin E).

Meibomitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the meibomian glands that leads to meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. It is caused by bacterial overgrowth, and is associated with vascularization of the lids, thickening of meibomian gland oils, and loss of normal meibomian gland anatomy and function. The loss of meibomian gland function leads to a deficiency of the tear film lipid layer, resulting in evaporative dry eye. The NutriDox Convenience Kit, available by prescription, includes doxycycline 75 mg, TheraTears Nutrition-a flaxseed oil/fish oil/vitamin E omega-3 supplement, and the iHeat portable warm compress system to help address these symptoms.

Sirion Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company pursuing the discovery, development, and commercialization of products addressing unmet medical needs in the protection and preservation of eyesight.

Advanced Vision Research, with offices in Woburn, Massachusetts, develops and markets innovative pharmaceuticals for dry eye, external eye diseases and retinal health under the TheraTears, NutriDox and MacuTrition brands.