News

Olivia Kaiser Promoted to Clinical Trials Site Manager

Cody Wheeler · November 22, 2024 ·

Olivia Kaiser, who began her career in clinical trials as a subject recruiter and was promoted to Clinical Trials Team Lead, has been promoted to Site Manager at Butchertown Clinical Trials.

In Olivia’s new role, she will have expanded planning and trial coordination duties as the site is poised for additional growth and is currently undergoing an expansion allowing it to double the number of subjects screened for enrollment in new trials.

“I am delighted to take on this new role as Site Manager at Butchertown Clinical Trials, where I can leverage my passion for advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes. I plan to continue leading our team with a commitment to excellence; my goals include streamlining our research processes and resources, enhancing patient enrollment and engagement, and ensuring the highest level of data integrity and quality for our sponsors,” Olivia said.

Olivia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Louisville. She is a member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, a trade industry group.

Butchertown Clinical Trials is an ophthalmic, primary care, nutrition, observational, and specimen collection clinical trial site. Having completed hundreds of clinical trials and with 21 FDA-approved drugs and devices it is the largest and most successful privately operated ophthalmic clinical trial site in the U.S.

You May Benefit By Participating in a Clinical Trial

Mark Prussian · July 18, 2024 ·

Our Butchertown Clinical Trials division works with our doctors and patients to test new treatments, or variations of existing treatments, to determine if they are more effective, or safer than existing treatments, and therefore worthy of FDA approval.

Under the direction of The Doctors of The Eye Care Institute, our clinical-trials-only staff of almost a dozen science-oriented individuals works to ensure our trials are conducted under strict safety standards and within the guidelines of pharmaceutical companies or device manufacturers.

With 21 FDA approvals and having completed hundreds of clinical trials, we believe we are the largest and most successful ophthalmology clinical trial center in the US that is not affiliated with a university or medical school.
When you participate in a clinical trial you receive:

Medical care related to the trial at no cost
Trial medication at no cost
Financial reimbursement for your time
The satisfaction of knowing that your participation may lead to a medical breakthrough.

At Butchertown Clinical Trials, we only participate in trials that we believe are low risk and for which scientific advancement has a reasonable chance of success. You always receive a comprehensive Informed Consent so you can understand the risks and benefits of the trial.

We are currently seeking patients for trials involving these conditions:
Dry Eye Disease, Corneal Disease, Glaucoma, Blepharitis, and more.

Taking A Weight Loss Drug and Worried About Vision Loss?

Mark Prussian · July 18, 2024 ·

A recent study* was published showing an increase in eye disease, for those taking Semaglutide, GLP-1 Antagonist, for weight loss.

Two of these three medications, Ozempic and Rybelsus, are FDA-approved for treating Type II Diabetes. These are often used “off-label” for weight loss. Wegovy is FDA-approved for those 12 and over to treat obesity.

The increase in the incidence of one eye disease, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) happens when blood flow to the optic nerve is blocked. The blockage may cause sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye.

Mounjaro has a different method of action and was not included in this research study.

Our Advice:

We are NOT recommending discontinuing the use of these weight-loss drugs at this time.

For most adult patients, and all of our patients with diabetes, we always strongly encourage an annual dilated comprehensive eye exam. This is everyone’s best assurance of finding vision-threatening conditions early enough to allow for treatment and prevention options.

Anytime you experience sudden vision loss or pain, you are encouraged to call us. Our phones are answered 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

*Health research takes many forms. This study was a thorough, peer-reviewed analysis of those taking Semaglutide, covering almost 1,800 patient charts, over three years, at one hospital. Many scientists believe a different type of research project, a Phase IV (post-marketing) randomized, controlled, clinical trial of those taking Semaglitude would best confirm the results of this research.

Butchertown Clinical Trials and The Eye Care Institute Announce Our 19th FDA Approval, XDEMVY™, a novel eyedrop for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis

Mark Prussian · July 25, 2023 ·

For Immediate Release – July 25, 2023

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Irvine, CA, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved XDEMVY (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) 0.25% indicated for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.

XDEMVY is the First and Only FDA-Approved Treatment for Demodex Blepharitis (DB)

Tarsus states Demodex blepharitis impacts approximately 25 million eye care patients in the U.S. – or 1 out of every 12 adults. It is a common yet often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed eyelid disease that is caused by an infestation of Demodex mites, the most common ectoparasite found on human skin.

Mark Prussian, CEO of Butchertown Clinical Trials, said “My mother, who lives in a nursing home, was suffering from Demodex mites on the eyelids at the same time we were actively participating in the clinical trials. As she doesn’t live nearby, she wasn’t eligible to participate in the trial. It was so disheartening to see my mother suffer from this condition, without any treatment options, while also knowing my own colleagues were working toward an effective treatment. While useful for millions of active Americans, Prussian believes this new treatment will be especially beneficial for nursing home residents and others with less active lifestyles.

John C. Meyer, MD, of The Eye Care Institute and Butchertown Clinical Trials, was the Principal Investigator. Dr. Meyer said was encouraged by the results as soon as he began seeing the effects of the trial drug. Working with the Butchertown Clinical Trials staff, Dr. Meyer enrolled more than 120 Louisville area patients in this trial.

This is the 19th FDA approved drug or device for Louisville, KY-based Butchertown Clinical Trials, a division of The Eye Care Institute. Mark Prussian stated each FDA approval is a breakthrough for medicine and for the improvement of the lives of our patients.

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For More Information Contact Mark Prussian at Butchertown Clinical Trials

Butchertown Clinical Trials and The Eye Care Institute Announce Our 17th FDA Approval or Clearance

Mark Prussian · January 19, 2023 ·

Visant Medical Canalicular Occlusive Device Treating Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease

For Immediate Release

Visant Medical, a Menlo Park, CA company, announced FDA Clearance for its patented canalicular occlusive device. The device blocks tear drainage through the canalicular system in patients experiencing both signs and symptoms of dry eye disease for up to six months.

John C. Meyer, MD, of The Eye Care Institute and Butchertown Clinical Trials, was the principal investigator for the proof of concept research leading to the clinical trials being submitted to the FDA for clearance of this novel approach to treating signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. “Designers brought several prototypes of the device to our facility. I was able to implant several versions of the prototype to determine which was most effective in meeting the scientific goals. Even in the early stages of development, it was clear this device was headed for success,” Meyer said.

“We are pleased to have received FDA clearance for our innovative dry eye product, which is based on a proprietary formulation of cross-linked hyaluronic acid,” said Vartan Ghazarossian, Ph.D., Co-founder, President, and CEO of Visant Medical. “Upon commercialization, the product will be offered as a kit that includes the device in a sterile syringe, along with compatible cannulas for delivery of the device.”

Mark Prussian, CEO of Butchertown Clinical Trials and The Eye Care Institute, said, “I recall that when Dr. Ghazarossian came to my office, he was laser-focused on engineering and design of this device. Together, we compared retail hyaluronic acid, which my wife, Betsy Prussian, purchased at the Shelbyville Road location of Trader Joe’s, with the large quantities his firm was buying for research and development.”

This is the 17^th FDA approved or cleared drug or device for Louisville, KY based Butchertown Clinical Trials. Three additional drugs or devices researched at Butchertown Clinical Trials are currently before the FDA awaiting approval.

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For More Information, Contact Mark Prussian at Butchertown Clinical Trials