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Zeiss Medical Technology Receives NMPA Approval for ILM-Blue in China

Zeiss Medical Technology has announced that ILM-Blue, an internal limiting membrane (ILM) dye developed by Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (DORC), has received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The regulatory milestone marks the first availability of a DORC posterior segment dye product in the Chinese market.A Globally Trusted Solution for Vitreoretinal Surgery

ILM-Blue, marketed in the United States as Tissue Blue, has been available in Europe since 2010 and remains the only ILM dye approved by the U.S. FDA. The product is designed to enhance visualization of the ILM during vitreoretinal (VR) surgery, clearly distinguishing it from underlying retinal layers and thereby reducing the risk of retinal trauma.

To date, ILM-Blue has been used in over 900,000 surgical procedures worldwide, reinforcing its reputation as a clinically proven, high-performance dye solution in retinal surgery.

Expanding Access to Innovative Retina Solutions in China

“We are delighted to bring ILM-Blue to the Chinese market, where it will provide retina surgeons with a proven, high-quality staining solution to enhance visualisation,” said Jessie Jiang Bo, General Manager of DORC in China.“This approval reinforces our dedication to expanding access to innovative ophthalmic solutions that help surgeons improve patient outcomes.”

Strategic Integration into the Zeiss Surgical Portfolio

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG completed the acquisition of DORC in April 2024, following the agreement announced in late 2023. As a result, DORC’s Eva Nexus VR surgery platform is now integrated into Zeiss Medical Technology’s surgical offerings.

“ZEISS and DORC are committed to supporting surgeons in the China market with the latest innovation and tools that create a higher standard of care and better patient experience,” said Pierre Billardon, Head of Business Sectors Surgery Posterior Segment at Zeiss Medical Technology and CEO of DORC International.“The global success of ILM-Blue underscores the company’s commitment to providing high-quality and effective solutions to the ophthalmic community.”

With this approval, Zeiss Medical Technology and DORC further strengthen their position in the Chinese ophthalmic surgery market, supporting retina surgeons with advanced tools for safer and more effective VR procedures.

Europe must end reliance on US technology – Christine Lagarde

Europe must end its reliance on American and Chinese technology, Christine Lagarde has warned. 
Speaking just hours before Donald Trump announces tariffs on all EU goods imported into the United States, Ms Lagarde said the bloc must become more self-sufficient – something she characterised as a  “march towards independence”. 
The President of the European Central Bank added that she believes in particular that digital payments should be “under our control”. 

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“When you think of it at the moment, a lot of our digital payment – e-commerce or when you use your card or your phone – you always rely on non-European infrastructure,” she told The Pat Kenny Show. 
“Whether you use a card or a phone, typically it goes through Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Alipay – where are all those coming from? 
“Either the US or China; the whole infrastructure mechanism that allows for payments, credit and debit, is not a European solution.” 
Ms Lagarde continued that while these firms work in compliance with EU regulations, she still believes Brussels should “make sure there is a European offer”. 
“Just in case,” she said. 
“You never know.” 
Christine Lagarde. Picture by: xEibner-Pressefoto/FlorianxWieganx EP_FWD
On the issue of how the European Union should respond to US tariffs, Ms Lagarde refused to be drawn and said the issue was “something for the political leaders to decide”. 
However, she did warn that the consequences of the tariffs would be wholly negative for the economy.  
“Our job at the Central Bank is to anticipate, to explain to them… what the consequences will be in terms of [the negative] economic impact – because it will be negative anyway the worldover,” she said. 
“The density and durability of the impact will vary depending on the scope, on the products targeted and how it lasts.”
The Eurotower of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. Image: Alamy Stock Photo
Inflation in Ireland is currently at 1.8% – slightly below the eurozone average of 2.2% and the ECB’s 2% target. 
Ms Lagarde said she believes that overall the bank is “close to target” and that the trend remains positive. 
“We have come from very high inflation that was precipitated by a combination of shocks that came from one after the other,” she said. 
“We are now very close to [our] target; so, the disinflationary process is well under way. 
“We are not quite at target yet; there is still a bit of work to do. 
“But we are quite satisfied with the work that we have done.” 
Ms Lagarde is visiting Ireland to accept the Sutherland Leadership Award from KPMG.

Main image: Pat Kenny and Christine Largarde. Picture by: Newstalk. 

Minister Lecce talks about his new expanded portfolio, meetings in Washington

A day before President Trump is poised to announce tariffs that experts say will harm the economy in both countries, Ontario’s Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce went to D.C. trying to position the province as Washington’s most reliable partner.“The Americans are waking up to the reality that they are dependent on China for critical minerals, and they need an alternative,” Lecce said. “Ontario is the answer.”
Minister Lecce attended the SAFE Summit in Washington, a meeting with the global leaders in energy, transportation and supply chain.
With the U.S. scrambling to secure resources like nickel and cobalt, essential for electric vehicle batteries and defense technology, Ontario is stepping up its pitch.
The minister said China is intentionally ending all exports of rare earth to critical minerals to the US for military applications.
Lecce said that the province has the minerals the U.S. needs, coupled with a stable regulatory environment and close economic ties.
“The United States has one operating nickel mine, and it’s closing by the end of the decade,” Lecce said. “Meanwhile, Ontario has the largest supply of critical minerals in the country, and we’re ready to export.”
Lecce said the pitch has resonated with the American leaders he has spoken with. “ What resonated most with our American friends is that, first off, they appreciated knowing the critical minerals we have that they need, for example, speaking about the highest grade nickel, and they were very reassured by our vision to rapidly accelerate the speed by which government could reduce red tape,” he said.
After the last provincial election, Lecce got a boost in his portfolio, being in charge of Energy and Mines. He says his main priority in the new role is to “position Ontario as a global energy superpower and to be the leading market for critical minerals for democracies in industrialized economies around the world.”
The Ford government has been making an aggressive push to position Ontario as a global energy and mining leader.
“Tariffs would be damaging, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “But our job is to ensure that American decision-makers understand that they need Ontario as much as we need them.”
To that end, Lecce has been lobbying in Washington, meeting with lawmakers, industry leaders, and members of congress to make Ontario’s case. He pointed out that Premier Doug Ford has used economic leverage in trade disputes before and hinted that Ontario could do so again if necessary.
He said that although President Trump can be hard to persuade, the government’s strategy is to keep speaking directly to Americans to make the province’s message reach Trump.
“We’re going to continue to maintain a very aggressive posture in America, speaking directly to Americans, being on the news, being on advertisements, billboards meetings,” he said.
“Ontario is an energy superpower,” Lecce said. “We are a net exporter of electricity, and we supply critical resources. If the Americans want to work with a democratic, reliable partner instead of China, they need to ensure that Ontario isn’t punished with unfair trade measures.”
Beyond North America, Ontario has also been seeking to diversify its export markets. Lecce pointed to recent agreements in Germany and Eastern Europe as a sign that the province is preparing for any potential shifts in U.S. trade policy.
“Our goal is to strengthen our relationship with the U.S., but we’re not putting all our eggs in one basket,” he said. “We’re actively working to secure deals with European partners to ensure we have multiple markets for Ontario’s resources.”
When asked if he was hopeful Trump would soften his approach in regards to Canada, Lecce said ”We need to be prepared for the impact of these tariffs,” but that the government has taken action to safeguard Ontario’s jobs.
“We’ve made a commitment to stand by our workers, and in the meantime, we’ve spent a great deal of effort diversifying our export markets so that we end the overwhelming dependence on one market in the US so that we’re never in this position in the future,” he added.
Lecce also said that the Ring of Fire, the massive but largely untapped mineral-rich region in northern Ontario, is a crucial part of the province’s long-term strategy.
“It’s a generational opportunity,” Lecce said. “We’re committed to unlocking the potential of the Ring of Fire to make Ontario the leading supplier of critical minerals in North America.”
For Lecce, Ontario’s pitch to Washington is as much about security as it is about economics.
“We’re not just talking about trade,” he said. “This is about geopolitical stability. Ontario can help North America reduce its dependence on adversarial nations, and we’re making sure that message is heard loud and clear.”

TSS Solutions is Awarded Army BOA for AI Talent Services, Technology

TSS Solutions is Awarded Army BOA for AI Talent Services, Technology – Technology Today – EIN Presswire