Bayer HealthCare commences new clinical studies of VEGF Trap-Eye for DME

Bayer HealthCare has commenced its phase III clinical trial programme for VEGF Trap-Eye as a treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME).

In association with partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the company has initiated Vivid-DME, the first of two planned phase III studies of the drug in this specification, which is taking place in Europe, Australia and Japan.

A second trial, Vista-DME, will be held as part of this programme in the US, Canada and other countries later this year.

The development programme for the multi-purpose eye disease treatment is being expanded to include DME following positive results in global phase II trials.

Dr Kemal Malik, head of global development and member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee, noted: "Clinically significant DME is a leading cause of vision loss in adults under the age of 50 suffering from diabetes."

This comes after Bayer and Regeneron began a trial of VEGF Trap-Eye as a treatment for choroidal neovascularisation of the retina caused by pathologic myopia earlier this year.