Roche Pharmaceutical has announced positive phase II results from their MAHALO phase II study of lampalizumab (aka anti-factor D). The study showed a 20.4 percent reduction in progression of advanced dry macular degeneration (geographic atrophy) at 18 months. Lampalizumab is designed to inhibit Complement Factor D, a protein that is part of the alternative complement pathway best known for its role in reducing inflammation. The data also showed no unexpected or unmanageable serious adverse events associated with lampalizumab. These data were presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
MAHALO is the first study to show a beneficial treatment effect with a complement inhibitor in geographic atrophy.
“The phase II results are encouraging for patients with geographic atrophy, a major vision-impairing disease where there is a great need for treatment options,” said Richard Scheller, Ph.D., Head of Genentech Research and Early Development. “We are continuing to investigate our emerging biomarker strategy to identify people who would be appropriate candidates for treatment with lampalizumab.”
Source: www.fiercebiotech.com
