Ora and Macular Society Partner to Increase Patient Awareness and participation in Clinical Research and Drive Innovation in Eyecare Treatment

Ora and Macular Society Partner to Increase Patient Awareness and participation in Clinical Research and Drive Innovation in Eyecare Treatment

New Partnership Aims to Prioritise Patient Centricity in Clinical Research, Increase Trial Participation and Support Continued Advancement of Treatments


04 November 2022 – LONDON – Ora, Inc., the world’s leading partner for ophthalmic pharmaceutical and device development, has announced that it has partnered with The Macular Society to continue to support the advancement of new treatment options in eyecare across the UK.

In the UK, it is widely known that clinical trial awareness in patients is extremely low, with estimates suggest that just 3% of patients ever take part in a clinical trial, mostly due to lack of awareness and understanding of the research process. By prioritising patient centricity, this partnership is a critical step in supporting the continued advancement of treatment options for eyecare, educating the patient population and increasing awareness of clinical research within local communities throughout the UK.

“Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK and has a devastating impact on so many people's lives,” said Geraldine Hoad, research manager for the Macular Society. “Patients play a vital role in research. Without them, new treatments would not be developed and the progress we have seen to date would not be possible.

“By working with Ora we hope we can encourage more patients to take part in these trials and understand the wide-ranging benefits of being involved in research.”
The Macular Society aims to raise awareness of eye health, providing services to patients across the UK suffering from the debilitating condition of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Ora has been working to increase awareness amongst the patient community about the scope and breadth of ongoing ophthalmic clinical trials, with the aim of improving understanding of clinical research as a care option and enhancing the patient experience during the study process.
“When I was first diagnosed with AMD, my world stopped. I’d been driving for nearly 60 years and suddenly I couldn’t anymore – my independence disappeared and my world shrunk in a matter of moments,” stated Mary Gilchrist, AMD patient and participant in Ora’s clinical trial patient focus group. “But when I joined the Macular Society, it turned out to be one of the best things I ever did. The Macular Society has been a critical part of my journey – it’s such a trusted source of information in a world that can be intensely overwhelming.”

“People with chronic conditions such as dry AMD don’t have any current avenues for treatment, and without clinical research, they may be left without any ability to manage their conditions on a day-to-day basis,” commented Sally Tucker, Vice President Ora Europe, MCOptom, PhD. “For these people, a lack of treatment can impact their ability to function in everyday life. We know there is a lack of awareness and education surrounding clinical research at patient level and together with the Macular Society, we aim to change this so that we can better understand the impact of these challenging diseases alongside how sponsors, researchers and ophthalmic professionals can provide innovative care options and pave a better path for clinical research in eyecare across the UK.”

About Ora, Inc.
Ora is the world’s leading full-service ophthalmic drug and device development firm with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Asia. For over 40 years, we have proudly helped our clients earn more than 50 product approvals. We support a wide array of organizations, from start-ups to global pharmaceutical and device companies, to efficiently bring their new products from concept to market. Ora’s pre-clinical and clinical models, unique methodologies, and global regulatory strategies have been refined and proven across thousands of global projects. We bring together the world’s most extensive and experienced team of ophthalmic experts, R&D professionals, and management executives to maximize the value of new product initiatives. For more information, please visit www.oraclinical.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on LinkedIn.

Ora® and Ora Logo are registered trademarks of Ora, Inc.

About Macular Society
Every day, around 300 people are diagnosed with macular disease. It’s the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK. Macular disease is cruel and isolating. It steals your sight, your independence, and your ability to do the things you love.

It can affect people of any age – even children – but not enough is known about why, and there is still no cure. There is only one way to Beat Macular Disease for good. We must fund much more research now, until we find a cure, or find treatments that stop it in its tracks.

Together we can fund the research that will find the cure. Together we can make sure the next generation won’t have their sight, confidence, and love of life stolen from them by macular disease.