Data from the study comparing Lucentis to Visudyne photodynamic therapy (PDT) showed a difference in mean change in visual acuity of 18 letters for patients treated with 0.3 mg of Lucentis, and 21 letters for patients treated with 0.5 mg of Lucentis from study entry compared to those treated with PDT at 12 months.
In the first year of this two-year study, patients treated with Lucentis gained an average of 8.5 letters in the 0.3 mg dose group and 11 letters in the 0.5 mg dose group compared to patients treated with PDT, who lost an average of 9.5 letters.
“Lucentis is the first investigational therapy that has shown improved vision, not just a slowing of vision loss, in patients with all types of wet AMD,” said Dr Peter Kaiser, director, Clinical Research Center, The Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. “As a result, physicians may be one step closer to being able to set a new expectation for the future treatment of this condition.”