Bayer confirms success of VEGF Trap-Eye

Bayer has announced the publication of new data confirming the success of the VEGF Trap-Eye as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The company said the drug can achieve durable improvements in biologic measurement parameters in the formation of new blood vessels in addition to boosting visual acuity.

It presented these phase II study results at the annual meeting of the Retina Society in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Biologic parameters measured included the thickness of the retina and active choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) lesion size.

Patients receiving monthly doses of the drug in either 2mg or 0.5mg doses for 12 weeks followed by PRN dosing showed a mean decrease in retinal thickness of 143 microns and 125 microns respectively when compared to baseline at week 52.

VEGF Trap-Eye is being co-developed by Bayer HealthCare with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

Jason Slakter, clinical professor of ophthalmology at the New York University School of Medicine, said: “Progression of the active CNV lesion and resulting vision impairment are an inevitable consequence of untreated wet AMD.”

He added the results seen in the phase II study could be translated into clinically meaningful outcomes in the phase III studies currently being undertaken.

In August 2008, Bayer HealthCare and Regeneron announced positive results for VEGF Trap-Eye, which showed significant improvements in both its primary and secondary endpoints of retinal thickness and vision gain.