For Some, Switching ANTI-VEGF Treatments Midstream Could Be Harmful

Switching from Lucentis to Eylea could result in worsening of the retinal condition of some people with wet (exudative) AMD. Since the advent of anti-VEGF drug treatments for wet AMD, research has verified that blood vessel growth and leakage (neovascularization) usually diminishes in patients who are switched from either Lucentis or Avastin to Eylea. A small [Read More]

AMD Since Anti-VEGF

A National Eye Institute (NEI) study* confirms that anti-VEGF treatments have greatly improved the prognosis for patients with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) during the past decade. In the study of nearly 650 people, half still had vision 20/40 or better, typically good enough to drive or to read standard print, after five years of treatment with [Read More]

Iluvien Similar to Anti-VEGF Drugs as Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy

(Updated 12/5/2017) On February 16, Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, announced to the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting that Iluviuan (fluocinolone acetonide) treatment, after 1.3 injections over 3 years in the FAME trials, “significantly reduced progression to prolific diabetic retinopathy from 31% to 17%, a similar reduction as observed with monthly anti-VEGF treatments.” Iluvian [Read More]

Lucentis effective for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

NIH-funded clinical trial marks first major advance in therapy in 40 years A clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that the drug ranibizumab (Lucentis) is highly effective in treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The trial, conducted by the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net) compared Lucentis with a type of laser [Read More]

Phase 2 Stem Cell Trial To Be Initiated

Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. (now owned by Acucela) announced on March 31, 2015 that the company has completed dosing of its Phase 1/2 studies for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt’s Macular Degeneration (SMD). A total of 38 patients have been safely dosed. The 200,000 cell cohort, the highest level planned, was successfully completed, paving [Read More]