LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Thomson Financial) - Bayer AG. said its VEGF Trap-Eye injection, developed jointly with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., was shown to improve vision in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) when used over one year, confirming previous results over shorter periods.
In a phase II study, VEGF Trap-Eye was effective in treating wet AMD, one of the main causes of blindness in adults, when a 12-week fixed-dose regimen was first extended over 32 weeks and then over a total of 52 weeks, Bayer said in a statement.
In the later stages of the drug trial, the VEGF Trap-Eye was only given to patients when needed, the company added.
VEGF Trap-Eye was shown to reduce the abnormal thickness of the retina and also improved patients' vision over the full length of the trial, Bayer said.
Bayer and Regeneron are currently enrolling patients for the third and last phase of testing required for regulatory approval. The last phase will test VEGF Trap-Eye against Genentech Inc.'s Lucentis.
VEGF Trap-Eye, an injection into the eye, is designed to subdue abnormal growth of blood vessels beneath the retina, which causes wet AMD. ludwig.burger@thomsonreuters.com lb/hjp COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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