Study On The Investigational Use Of Macugen In Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy Published In The British Journal Of Ophthalmology

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Also Included In: Diabetes
Article Date: 22 Oct 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Eyetech Inc. announced the publication of data from a randomized, prospective, open-label study evaluating the investigational use of intravitreal Macugen® (pegaptanib sodium injection) compared to pan-retinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) in the treatment of active proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The article is available in the online edition of the British Journal of Ophthalmology (BJO) and scheduled for publication in the November 2009 issue.

"This limited study suggests that Macugen may have the potential to produce marked and rapid short-term regression of diabetic neovascularization. The fact that the regression was maintained throughout the study is particularly encouraging," said Victor H. Gonzalez, M.D., lead author of the paper and Medical Director of the Valley Retina Institute in McAllen, Texas. "Further research is needed to determine if Macugen is a safe and effective treatment for PDR. There are currently no approved pharmacologic treatments for patients with diabetic retinopathy."

In the study, 20 subjects with active PDR were randomly assigned to receive treatment in one eye with either Macugen (0.3 mg) every 6 weeks for 30 weeks, or with PRP laser. The primary endpoint was the regression of PDR from baseline to week 36, defined as regression of neovascularization. All eyes treated with Macugen (N=10) were completely regressed by the end of the study at week 36. Among patients who received PRP (N=9), two showed complete regression, two demonstrated partial regression, and four showed persistent active PDR at week 36.

Investigators reported additional endpoints. At week 3, all eyes treated with Macugen showed at least partial neovascularization (NV), defined as a reduction of more than 50% of the NV size, compared with two eyes in the PRP laser group. Among eyes treated with Macugen, the mean central macular thickness (CMT) was 201 µm at baseline and 191 µm at week 36, compared with 232 µm at baseline and 303 µm for PRP-treated eyes at week 36 (P=0.025 t-test). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) score was 76 letters in each treatment arm at baseline and at week 36 the change in mean BCVA from baseline was a gain of 5.8 letters among patients treated with Macugen and a loss of 6.0 letters for the PRP treated arm (P=0.22, not statistically significant).

Mild to moderate transient ocular adverse events were reported with Macugen.

Eyetech is funding an independent study by Dr. Gonzalez to further investigate Macugen for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. In addition, Eyetech initiated the PRESERVE trial in January 2009 to study 4-week and 6-week dosing regimens of Macugen in patients with DME. A Phase III trial of Macugen for the treatment of DME is being conducted in the European Union.

About Eyetech Inc.

Eyetech Inc. is a unique, independent 100% employee-owned and operated biotechnology company dedicated exclusively to the treatment of sight-threatening diseases of the retina. For additional information, please visit http://www.eyetech.com.

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Macugen