Bayer HealthCare commences new VEGF Trap-Eye study

Bayer HealthCare has announced the commencement of a new phase III clinical study of VEGF Trap-Eye for the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

This latest trial is being conducted in China in association with partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, with the aim of further strengthening the drug's clinical profile and making it more widely available.

Named Sight, the new phase III study will involve around 300 patients and will be the largest retinal trial conducted in the Asian nation, with safety and efficacy results to be compared to photodynamic therapy with verteporfin.

VEGF Trap-Eye recently received regulatory approval in the US, while European and Japanese marketing applications are still under consideration.

Dr Kemal Malik, head of global development and member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee, said: "After reporting positive data from our large View programme in wet AMD, we look forward to potentially bringing this new treatment to patients with wet AMD in China."

Earlier this month, Bayer HealthCare presented Helen Chenoweth of the Royal Cornwall Hospital with an award for a scientific poster abstract detailing new ways of improving diabetes therapy.