VEGF Inhibitor Shows Promise For Treating Neovascular AMD

Medscape (5/6, Osterweil) reported that, according to a study presented at a vision research meeting, “An experimental fusion protein was safe and was associated with statistically significant improvements in visual acuity and other parameters, compared with sham injections, in patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion, and also showed efficacy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).” Specifically, “six-month follow-up results from the phase 3 COPERNICUS (Controlled Phase 3 Evaluation of Repeated Intravitreal Administration of VEGF Trap-Eye In Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: Utility and Safety) trial showed that 56.1% of patients who received the protein gained at least three lines of visual acuity (15 or more letters), compared with 12.3% of control subjects who received sham injections (P < .0001).”