Bayer HealthCare’s Eylea shows diabetic macular oedema benefits

Bayer HealthCare has announced positive clinical trial data showing the benefits its drug Eylea can provide in the treatment of diabetic macular oedema.

Three-year results for the phase III VIVID-DME trial showed sustained improvements in best corrected visual acuity associated with a two mg dose of Eylea, compared to laser photocoagulation.

These findings indicate that patients who achieved vision gains in the first year maintained these benefits over three years. The safety findings of the study were also in line with those of previous trials.

Study leader Professor Jean-Francois Korobelnik at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux said: "Allowing people whose eyesight has been impaired as a result of their diabetes the opportunity to regain and retain their vision over time is critical."

Eylea is approved for the treatment of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema and macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.

In Europe, Japan and the US, it is also approved for the treatment of visual impairment secondary to macular oedema due to retinal vein occlusion.