ENTOD Pharmaceuticals’ PresVU Eye Drops Under Scrutiny for False Claims
By Shalini Bhardwaj
New Delhi, India, September 5: ENTOD Pharmaceuticals is facing criticism for making false claims about its PresVU eye drops. The company stated that the eye drops were approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and could treat presbyopia effectively. However, a top official source has called these claims unethical and false.
The drug regulator has asked ENTOD Pharmaceuticals to explain the false representation. The company had claimed that PresVU is the first eye drop in India designed to reduce the need for reading glasses for people with presbyopia, a common vision problem in those over 40. They also mentioned that the product has been applied for a patent and helps lubricate the eyes.
Nikkhil K Masurkar, CEO of ENTOD Pharmaceuticals, said, “PresVu is the result of years of dedicated research and development. This DCGI approval is a major step forward in our mission to transform eye care in India. PresVu is more than just a product; it’s a solution that stands to improve the lives of millions by offering them greater visual independence. We take pride in our commitment to innovation and in providing healthcare solutions that are both accessible and affordable.”
However, medical experts have criticized the product. Dr. Charu Kashyap from Max Hospital Saket, New Delhi, called it an “imperfect and temporary solution.” Dr. Samir Sud from Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals explained that the drops contain pilocarpine, a substance used for glaucoma treatment for over 75 years. He mentioned that while pilocarpine can help with reading by causing a pinhole effect in the pupil, it has serious complications.
Dr. Tushar Grover from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital added that the drops are essentially pilocarpine at a lower concentration, a molecule that has been used for decades in glaucoma treatment.
Doubts Revealed
ENTOD Pharmaceuticals -: ENTOD Pharmaceuticals is a company that makes medicines, including eye drops.
PresVU Eye Drops -: PresVU Eye Drops are a type of medicine that ENTOD Pharmaceuticals says can help with eye problems.
Scrutiny -: Scrutiny means that people are looking very closely at something to see if there are any problems.
False Claims -: False claims are statements that are not true. In this case, it means saying the eye drops can do things they really can’t.
DCGI -: DCGI stands for Drug Controller General of India, which is a government group that checks if medicines are safe and work well.
Presbyopia -: Presbyopia is an eye problem that makes it hard for older people to see things up close.
Medical Experts -: Medical experts are doctors and scientists who know a lot about health and medicines.
Drug Regulator -: A drug regulator is a government group that makes sure medicines are safe and do what they are supposed to do.
Pilocarpine -: Pilocarpine is a medicine that has been used for a long time to treat another eye problem called glaucoma.
Glaucoma -: Glaucoma is an eye disease that can make people go blind if it is not treated.