Bayer HealthCare begins new VEGF Trap-Eye trial

Bayer HealthCare has initiated a new phase III clinical trial of VEGF Trap-Eye, the new ophthalmology treatment it is developing with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

The company has commenced a new study called Myrror that will investigate the potential efficacy of the treatment among sufferers of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) of the retina resulting from pathologic myopia.

This trial is being conducted in association with the Singapore Eye Research Institute, with the research set to take place in a number of Asian nations, beginning with Japan.

VEGF Trap-Eye has previously demonstrated its efficacy against neovascular age-related macular degeneration and it is hoped the drug can also prove effective in treating myopic CNV, for which there is currently no well-established therapy.

Rupert Sandbrink, vice-president for global clinical development in ophthalmology at Bayer, said: "With this study, we hope to show the efficacy of VEGF Trap-Eye in combating yet another important cause of vision loss, myopic CNV."

Last month, the company reported further clinical data on VEGF Trap-Eye, which illustrated the product's effectiveness against macular edema caused by central retinal vein occlusion.