Last month, the FDA approved Eylea (VEGF-Trap, aflibercept) for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. The new drug does not need to be injected as often as Lucentis, yet it seems that the visual improvement is the same; that is, fewer injections yield similar improvement in vision...for the first year of therapy. Keep in mind that we are always interested in a drug's ability to improve … [Read more...]
Still No Iluvien
November 15, 2011 By 2 Comments
Alimera Sciences fails to get FDA approval for Iluvien. Iluvien is a sustained release drug delivery system that releases a steroid into the eye for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Alimera received the denial late last week in a letter from the FDA. Implant Too Risky In short, the FDA still has concerns about the safety of the new drug. Original concerns about cataract … [Read more...]
October is the AAO Meeting
October 18, 2011 By 7 Comments
We are leaving for Orlando, FL in a few days to attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. It is our industry's largest meeting of the year...worldwide. The meeting has become so large that only a certain cities can host the event; Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Orlando. Literally tens of thousands of people will attend; doctors, … [Read more...]
FDA Delays Decision on VEGF Trap Eye
August 24, 2011 By 13 Comments
VEGF Trap-Eye was not approved by the FDA for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. The parent company, Regeneron, was hopeful to gain FDA approval last week, but the FDA delayed its decision until November of this year. VEGF Trap-Eye Treats Wet Macular Degeneration VEGF Trap-Eye, or aflibercept, is another anti-VEGF drug formulated to treat wet macular degeneration. Like its … [Read more...]
Laser and anti-VEGF Best Treats Diabetic Macular Edema
April 27, 2011 By 4 Comments
Treating diabetic retinopathy with both laser and anti-VEGF injections may be the best way to treat patients with diabetic macular edema. Diabetic macular edema is the most common "side effect" of diabetic retinopathy and is the leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes. The results of a large, multicenter, randomized clinical trial compared several permutations of laser and the … [Read more...]
VEGF-Trap Gets Closer to FDA Approval
April 20, 2011 By 1 Comment
VEGF-Trap (aka aflibercept), another anti-VEGF drug, moves closer to FDA approval as it received "priority review" status. This status means that the FDA process will be accelerated and the drug can be reviewed in 6 months versus the usual 10 month period. Alfibercept is another injectable drug that may have an effect on choroidal neovascularization in wet macular degeneration. In the press … [Read more...]
VEGF Trap-Eye Treats Macular Degeneration
November 23, 2010 By 3 Comments
VEGF Trap-Eye (aflibercept) is another treatment for wet macular degeneration. The sponsoring pharmaceutical companies, Bayer and Regeneron, just reported favorable results in their own Phase III studies. Basically these studies compared aflibercept against well known Lucentis (ranibizumab). They report that VEGF Trap is just as good as Lucentis. Funny Name, But Still an Injection Despite … [Read more...]
Emerging Treatments for Diabetic Macular Edema
June 28, 2010 By 1 Comment
The standard treatment for diabetic macular edema is still laser photocoagulation (laser treatment). The treatment has been utilized for about 30 years, yet newer, and better, treatments are on the horizon. Diabetic macular edema is the biggest, most common, complication of diabetic retinopathy. Most patients with diabetes will develop some degree of this type of retinal … [Read more...]
Retinal Ischemia: Supply vs. Demand
May 4, 2010 By 2 Comments
Retinal ischemia causes VEGF to be liberated inside the eye. In cases of diabetes this can lead to diabetic retinal detachment or neovascular glaucoma. Treatments included pan-retinal photocoagulation (laser) or anit-VEGF medication such as Lucentis or Avastin. Ischemia results when oxygen supply does not meet oxygen demand to any tissue. Other examples are the heart and legs. With … [Read more...]
New Treatment for Diabetic Eye Disease
April 30, 2010 By 2 Comments
A combination of intravitreal injection of Lucentis (ranibizumab) plus laser has just been proven to be a new and more effective treatment for diabetic macular edema. For the past 25 years, laser photocoagulation (aka laser treatment) has been the mainstay for this most common complication of diabetic retinopathy. The new treatment involves Lucentis, the anti-VEGF drug also used to treat … [Read more...]
