Macular Degeneration: Hope is in the Pipeline
Age-Related Macular Degeneration is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in adults over 55. Far more people are affected by ARMD than glaucoma, retinal detachment or tumors.
Until recently focal laser treatment was the only effective way to halt progression of the wet-form of ARMD. That's the dangerous type caused by abnormal blood vessels sprouting underneath the retina. Laser energy destroys retinal tissue to obliterate the vessels, a terrible tradeoff.
Advances in medical therapy have revolutionized the treatment approach to ARMD. Here's a rundown:
Visudyne (Verteporfin, Novartis) was first. It is a light-stimulated drug that attacks the abnormal vessels.
Macugen (Pegaptanib, OSI/Eyetech) and Lucentis (Ranibizumab, Genentech/Novartis) are genetically-engineered antibodies that attack the protein responsible for the abnormal blood vessels. Macugen is already being prescribed. Lucentis is pending final FDA approval.
Heard of Avastin (Bevacizumab, Genentech)? It is a popular chemotherapy for colon cancer. The active drug in Avastin is chemically similar to Lucentis except it is already available for use. Some ophthalmologists are now offering Avastin injections to their ARMD patients as an "off-label" alternative. Oh, one other thing, Avastin costs $5.50 per milligram whereas Macugen is a whopping $3,300.00 per milligram. You read right, $3,300.00! Expect to hear more about this controversial subject.
Further up the FDA new drug pipeline there are three other promising ARMD therapies:
We'll talk more about these newer drugs as they get closer to the medical marketplace.
Just remember, there are options for patients with advanced ARMD. Don't hesitate to ask your eye doctor, "What's new?" The answer may surprise you!
Related Topics: New Macular Degeneration Drug Improves Sight, New Drug Slows Wet Macular Degeneration
Technorati Tags: macular degeneration, medication, vision
Until recently focal laser treatment was the only effective way to halt progression of the wet-form of ARMD. That's the dangerous type caused by abnormal blood vessels sprouting underneath the retina. Laser energy destroys retinal tissue to obliterate the vessels, a terrible tradeoff.
Advances in medical therapy have revolutionized the treatment approach to ARMD. Here's a rundown:
Visudyne (Verteporfin, Novartis) was first. It is a light-stimulated drug that attacks the abnormal vessels.
Macugen (Pegaptanib, OSI/Eyetech) and Lucentis (Ranibizumab, Genentech/Novartis) are genetically-engineered antibodies that attack the protein responsible for the abnormal blood vessels. Macugen is already being prescribed. Lucentis is pending final FDA approval.
Heard of Avastin (Bevacizumab, Genentech)? It is a popular chemotherapy for colon cancer. The active drug in Avastin is chemically similar to Lucentis except it is already available for use. Some ophthalmologists are now offering Avastin injections to their ARMD patients as an "off-label" alternative. Oh, one other thing, Avastin costs $5.50 per milligram whereas Macugen is a whopping $3,300.00 per milligram. You read right, $3,300.00! Expect to hear more about this controversial subject.
Further up the FDA new drug pipeline there are three other promising ARMD therapies:
- Retaane (Anecortave acetate, Alcon)
- Envizon (Squalamine lactate, Genaera)
- Combretastatin (Synthetic CA4, OXiGENE)
We'll talk more about these newer drugs as they get closer to the medical marketplace.
Just remember, there are options for patients with advanced ARMD. Don't hesitate to ask your eye doctor, "What's new?" The answer may surprise you!
Related Topics: New Macular Degeneration Drug Improves Sight, New Drug Slows Wet Macular Degeneration
Technorati Tags: macular degeneration, medication, vision
6 Comments:
I don't have ARMD yet, but fear that it is just a matter of time. My vision is extremely bad, so bad that according to my eye doctor, there is no surgery available to correct my vision to 20/20. I have had poor eyesight all my life. I am 59 years old and began experiencing double vision five years ago. The doctors prescribed glasses with prisms, but they do not correct the double vision. I went to several specialists (one being Dr. Marshall Parks), but even the prisms that he prescribed for me didn't correct the double vision. My doctor said that the double vision is caused by something going on in the back of my eyes. She said that they are more concerned about keeping an eye on the degeneration in the back of my eye and the macular than they are my vision. From that I assume that they fear I may develop ARMD. The double vision has severly limited my reading and driving. A doctor once told me that, because of the blood vessels in my eyes, that I was going to go blind. If one's eyes are always bloodshot, is that a huge concern? I don't think I have ARMD yet, or my doctor would have told me. Do you know of any treatment for double vision that isn't corrected by prisms and is it a precursor to ARMD? Is there anything I can do to help the health of my eyes. I have extremely dry eyes...have had plugs in the past, but they didn't help. I wear soft contacts.
Other than the three AMD drugs possibles you mentioned, you might check out the Genaera phase II trials using Evizon. It is applied by IV and not by endless pokes in the eye which do little to help, if anything.
I am 54 years old and have had poor vision all my life. I've been experiencing double vision, off and on, for about 6 months now.
It's very frustrating when driving or playing sports. I recently had an MRI to rule out a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, etc. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks,
Stephen
Hi, My dog has just been diagnosed with macular degeneration. Can anyone tell me what he is feeling? Pain, etc? Thanks,Laura
I have just been diagnosed to have wet AMD. I am a 34 year old female with perfect physical health. I was extremely disappointed of discovering this disease. The opthalmologist was not able to provide me what is the cause of the disease, but told me this disease only occur in elderly. I have an appointment to perform focal laser tomorrow morning and I hesitate to go for the laser treatment because I will have permanent blind spot. I have read few articles related to this disease and treatments. I need second opinion plsss......
You may have ocular histo which has now become "active." This is about the same as age related macular degneration that converts from dry to wet. There are other options out there besides Laser. Check out and find a Dr. in your area that uses Avastin.
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