A view on new drugs for macular degeneration
- 1 July 2007
- journal article
- review article
- Published by BMJ in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
- Vol. 45 (7), 49-52
- https://doi.org/10.1136/dtb.2007.45749
Abstract
Estimates suggest that in Europe 2.3% of people older than 65 years have neovascular age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to loss of central vision. The condition is the leading cause of blindness in the estern world, and the third commonest worldwide. It is characterised by growth of new blood vessels beneath the retina (choroidal neovascularisation), a process stimulated by the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).3 Two new drugs, pegaptanib sodium (Macugen - Pfizer) and ranibizumab (Lucentis -Novartis), that block the effects of VEGF are now licensed in the UK for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. A third drug that inhibits VEGF activity, bevacizumab (Avastin - Roche), is also used for this condition but is licensed only for metastatic colorectal or breast cancer. Here we consider the role of pegaptanib, ranibizumab and bevacizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.Keywords
This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit:
- Ranibizumab versus Verteporfin for Neovascular Age-Related Macular DegenerationNew England Journal of Medicine, 2006
- Ranibizumab for Neovascular Age-Related Macular DegenerationNew England Journal of Medicine, 2006
- Intravitreal Bevacizumab for the Management of Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-related Macular DegenerationAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology, 2006
- Prevalence of Age-Related Maculopathy in Older EuropeansArchives of Ophthalmology (1950), 2006
- Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin) for Neovascular Age-Related Macular DegenerationOphthalmology, 2006
- Systemic Bevacizumab (Avastin) Therapy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular DegenerationTwelve-Week Results of an Uncontrolled Open-Label Clinical StudyOphthalmology, 2005
- Pegaptanib for Neovascular Age-Related Macular DegenerationNew England Journal of Medicine, 2004
- Suppression of experimental choroidal neovascularization utilizing KDR selective receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitorAlbrecht von Graefes Archiv für Ophthalmologie, 2003
- Prevention of Experimental Choroidal Neovascularization With Intravitreal Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antibody FragmentArchives of Ophthalmology (1950), 2002
- Overexpression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Leads to the Development of Choroidal NeovascularizationThe American Journal of Pathology, 2000