FDA approves new treatment for macular degeneration linked
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the approval of pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen), a new therapy to slow vision loss in people with eye disease neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration with age (AMD). Pegaptanib is a selective vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonist. Macugen is one of the first treatments of the biology of wet macular degeneration in relation to age target, said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.The treatment of patients with this disease. AMD, a retinal disease, severe and irreversible loss of vision leads is a major cause of blindness in people over 55 years. Without treatment, most affected eyes with wet AMD are functionally blind.
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recognizing faces. The safety and efficacy of Macugen was studied in two trials in patients with wet AMD for two years. Patients treated with Macugen exhibited a significant decrease in the loss of vision in both studies. Serious adverse events associated with the injection procedure included infections, retinal detachment and traumatic cataract.and blurred vision. The NDA for Macugen was approved and in six months. Treatment with Macugen is being developed by Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Pfizer Inc. Eyetech and Pfizer co-market the product in the United States.