Genentech/Novartis drug combo improves sight

The single-masked phase I/II clinical study of the investigational drug Lucentis (ranibizumab) demonstrated an ability to maintain vision in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) when used in combination with verteporfin (Visudyne) photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Approximately 90% of patients maintained or improved vision when treated with the combination of Lucentis and PDT compared to approximately 68% of those treated in the control arm of PDT alone. Patients treated with Lucentis plus PDT at 12 months had, on average, a significant improvement in visual acuity compared to visual acuity at study entry, an important secondary endpoint, while the PDT-alone group demonstrated a decrease in mean visual acuity from baseline to 12 months.

However, preliminary analysis of the data showed that there was an increased risk of the serious ocular adverse event uveitis in patients treated with Lucentis in combination with PDT compared to patients treated with PDT alone.

Lucentis is a humanized therapeutic antibody fragment designed to bind and inhibit VEGF-A, a protein that plays a critical role in angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels). Lucentis is designed to block new blood vessel growth and leakiness, which lead to wet AMD disease progression and vision loss.

Lucentis is being developed by Genentech in collaboration with Novartis. Genentech retains commercial rights for Lucentis in North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) and Novartis has exclusive commercialization rights for the rest of the world.