Imaging data from a Phase 2 study of Pegaptanib ( Macugen ) in diabetic macular edema ( DME ) showed a reversal of capillary microaneurysms, retinal ischemia and neovascularization -- all important signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Macugen is indicated in the United States for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration ( neovascular AMD ) and is not approved for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

" Researchers reviewed photographs of the retina and noted evidence of regression of retinal neovascularization and other signs of diabetic retinopathy in patients treated with Macugen. We also found an improvement on the diabetic retinopathy severity scale, which suggests that Macugen may have helped slow or even reverse the progression of the disease," said Larry Singerman at Case University School of Medicine. " While no final conclusions can be drawn from these preliminary and limited data as to the efficacy of Macugen in diabetic retinopathy, we are encouraged by the potential implication of these findings, which are consistent with our current understanding of the role of VEGF in diabetic retinopathy. We look forward to future research to confirm this important hypothesis."

Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 69 patients within the Macugen 0.3 mg and usual care arms who had recognized and gradable diabetic retinopathy at both baseline and week 36. In these two arms of the trial, patients treated with Macugen 0.3 mg therapy showed an improvement in the ETDRS diabetic retinopathy severity scale, a standard for monitoring the progression of retinopathy. At week 36, 11 of the 39 Macugen 0.3 mg dosed patients ( 28.2 percent ) showed improvement of greater than or equal to 1 step versus four of 30 in the sham group ( 13.3 percent ). In addition, a higher proportion of Macugen patients ( five of 39, 12.8 percent ) showed an improvement of > 2 steps at week 36 compared to sham group ( one of 30, 3.3 percent ).

Another retrospective analysis from these two arms of the trial included 82 patients for whom assessment of retinal ischemia data was available at both baseline and week 36 ( 43 patients receiving 0.3 mg Macugen, 39 patients receiving usual care ). In this analysis, 16 percent of Macugen patients had less capillary loss, compared to five percent of patients receiving usual care.

In another analysis of all patients treated with Macugen, ( 0.3 mg, 1 mg, 3 mg doses ), 13 were noted to have retinal neovascularization upon their baseline examination. Of these 13 patients, regression in retinal neovascularization was noted at week 36 in eight ( 62 percent ), while no regression of neovascularization was recognized in sham patients who had neovascularization at baseline. As well, recurrence of neovascularization followed discontinuation of Macugen in three of the eight subjects ( 38% ) at week 52.

In a Phase 2, double-masked, sham-controlled study of 172 DME patients, 73 percent of patients receiving 0.3 mg Macugen experienced stable or improved vision at week 36, compared to 51 percent of patients who received sham ( p=0.023 ). Among Macugen 0.3 mg patients: 59 percent reported vision gain of at least one line ( 5 letters ) versus 34 percent of sham ( p=0.010 ); 34 percent reported vision gain of at least two lines ( 10 letters ) versus 10 percent of sham ( p=0.003 ); and 18 percent reported vision gain of at least three lines ( 15 letters ) versus seven percent of sham ( p=0.12 ). In addition, 42 percent of patients receiving Macugen 0.3 mg showed a decrease in mean retinal thickness of at least 100 microns, compared to 16 percent of sham. As well, at the end of the study, only half as many patients who received Macugen needed additional laser therapy compared to those receiving usual care ( 25% vs. 48% ).

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease affecting the blood vessels of the retina, resulting in multiple abnormalities including retinal thickening or edema, hemorrhages, impeded blood flow ( retinal ischemia ), excessive leakage of fluid from blood vessels and, in the final stages, abnormal blood vessel growth. Such blood vessel growth ( proliferative diabetic retinopathy ) can lead to hemorrhages and severe retinal damage. When the blood vessel leakage causes swelling within the macula, it is referred to as DME.

According to the American Diabetes Association ( ADA ), there are at least 18 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the United States.
After 10 years of disease duration, 75 percent of diabetics have developed some form of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults 20 to 74 years of age in the United States, and DME is the leading cause of vision loss for patients with diabetes.
In the United States, there are approximately 500,000 people suffering from DME, with approximately 75,000 new cases each year.

Macugen is indicated in the United States for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration ( neovascular AMD ) and is administered in a 0.3 mg dose once every six weeks by intravitreal injection. Macugen is a pegylated anti-VEGF aptamer, which binds to vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ).
VEGF is a protein that plays a critical role in angiogenesis ( the formation of new blood vessels ) and increased permeability (leakage from blood vessels), two pathological processes that contribute to the vision loss associated with neovascular AMD.

Important safety information

Macugen is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections.

Intravitreal injections including those with Macugen have been associated with endophthalmitis. Proper aseptic injection technique -- which includes use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum ( or equivalent ) -- should always be utilized when administering Macugen. In addition, patients should be monitored during the week following the injection to permit early treatment, should an infection occur.

Increases in intraocular pressure ( IOP ) have been seen within 30 minutes of injection with Macugen. Therefore, IOP as well as the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately.

Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure occurring in <1% of intravitreal injections included endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and iatrogenic traumatic cataract.

Most frequently reported adverse events in patients treated for up to two years were anterior chamber inflammation, blurred vision, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, corneal edema, eye discharge, eye irritation, eye pain, hypertension, increased IOP, ocular discomfort, punctate keratitis, reduced visual acuity, visual disturbance, vitreous floaters, and vitreous opacities. These events occurred in approximately 10% to 40% of patients.

Source: 2005 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting


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