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Publish Date : 15-Sep-2014

New data on Lucentis(ranibizumab) and Jetrea(ocriplasmin) from over 40 abstracts, as well as new surgical retina products, were presented at this year's EURETINA congress in London. The new data and products continue to highlight Novartis commitment to ophthalmology, and underscore its dedication to continually find new ways to protect and enhance eye health for patients.

Among the Lucentis highlights at EURETINA was the retrospective analysis of data from a US claims database. The database offers the first direct comparison of the risk of developing a condition known as endophthalmitis for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) treated with injections of Lucentis or aflibercept in the eye. A total of 253,647 Lucentis injections (in 54,551 patients) and 179,147 aflibercept injections (in 39,389 patients) were eligible for the analysis. The results suggest that the risk of endophthalmitis is 65% higher following treatment with aflibercept than treatment with Lucentis. As with all retrospective analysis of important real word data, such results should be interpreted with caution and where feasible, verified by double-blind randomized controlled trials.

"The new Lucentis data at EURETINA supports its well-characterized and long-established safety profile and provides further support for its role as the only anti-VEGF therapy licensed for five ocular indications," said Vasant Narasimhan, Global Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Alcon presented further efficacy and safety data for the use of Jetrea at EURETINA. Two presentations highlighted real-world clinical experience; one of which, conducted at the Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute, demonstrated a high rate of release and closure of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) and macular hole (MH), highlighting the critical importance of appropriate patient selection with the use of this treatment. Data discussions from a second presentation indicate further evidence of a post-authorization safety profile is consistent with that observed during the trials. Researchers also discussed vision-related quality-of-life experienced by patients following treatment with Jetrea. Analysis indicates that these patients displayed better improvements in their vision-related function compared to those who were administered a placebo-controlled injection.

Alcon also introduced several new instruments to its surgical vitreoretinal portfolio during EURETINA: the ULTRAVIT® High Speed Vitrectomy Probes in various gauge sizes, 27+ vitrectomy packs with a full complement of 27-gauge instrumentation, as well as the FINESSE(TM) Flex Loop. These new technologies are designed to help ophthalmic surgeons deliver a higher level of precision and efficiency during vitreoretinal surgery. Vitreoretinal surgery is the surgical removal of the vitreous gel from the middle of the eye.

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