Novartis highlights Lucentis vision therapy

Novartis has highlighted the benefits of Lucentis, its treatment for “wet” age-related macular degeneration (AMD), following its approval in Switzerland.

Following this, the company has said it has submitted Lucentis to EU drug regulators for approval in European Union countries like the UK.

The approval of Lucentis, which was developed in conjunction with Genentech, follows positive results two phase III clinical trials. These demonstrated that 68 per cent of Lucentis patients “gained vision” by one or more letters in an eye chart test, while 40 per cent showed improved vision by 15 or more letters.

Nicholas Franco, head of Novartis Opthalmics, remarked: “Lucentis is redefining the treatment standards as the first approved drug for wet AMD patients that has been shown to improve vision and return the ability to do life-affirming everyday activities such as reading.”

“Novartis is committed to providing treatments for wet AMD to physicians and patients that are innovative, effective and safe. We are excited to make Lucentis available to patients with this devastating disease,” he added.

Pfizer has also produced a treatment for wet AMD, called Macugen – an example of an aptamer drug.

Keith Gregory-Evans of the Western Eye Hospital of London, told the Times that Macugen “really is a major step forward in fighting AMD”.

AMD is the most common form of macular disease, normally developing in people over 50. Symptoms of the disease include blurry central vision and distortions of objects, according to the BBC.

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