Roche and Genentech announce positive Lucentis trial data

Roche and its subsidiary Genentech have published positive clinical trial data for their diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment Lucentis.

Results from the phase III Rise clinical study showed that patients using the drug were able to improve their vision sufficiently to read 15 more letters on the eye chart at 24 months compared to those in the placebo control group.

This meant that the treatment met its primary efficacy endpoint in the trial, which was conducted among 377 patients.

Lucentis is marketed by Novartis in Europe and was recently approved for the treatment of visual impairment due to DME.

A second phase III trial called Ride, the conditions of which are identical to Rise, is currently ongoing.

Dr Hal Barron, chief medical officer and head of global product development at Roche, said: "We are encouraged by this data and await the results of Ride, our other pivotal study in DME."

Earlier this month, the company published clinical trial data for its cancer drug Avastin, demonstrating its efficacy in combating ovarian cancer.