Roche and Genentech publish new Lucentis study data

Roche and Genentech have reported positive new clinical trial data for Lucentis, their treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME).

Data from Ride, the second of two phase III studies of the drug in this specification, showed that patients using Lucentis were able to read at least 15 additional letters on an eye chart after 24 months.

The results of the placebo-controlled trial met the primary efficacy endpoint and were consistent with previous clinical data, with no significant new safety findings uncovered by the study.

Roche and Genentech will now use this information to support a regulatory filing for Lucentis as a DME treatment in the US.

Dr Hal Barron, chief medical officer and head of global product development at Roche, said: "This data adds to the considerable body of clinical evidence showing that patients with DME who received Lucentis had significant improvement in vision."

Earlier this month, the companies published data from the earlier Rise study, which demonstrated that Lucentis is able to deliver vision improvements in as little as seven days.