Ocriplasmin(Novartis/Thrombogenics) studies for Vitreomacular Adhesion published in NEJM - 18-Aug-2012

Novartis has announced the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published the results of two Phase III studies, Studies 006 and 007, of the investigational eye treatment Jetrea ( ocriplasmin). The studies including 652 patients found that ocriplasmin, significantly resolved vitreomacular traction and closed macular holes compared to placebo in patients with vitreomacular adhesion.

Vitreomacular adhesion (VMA), including vitreomacular traction (VMT) and macular holes, is an age-related progressive, debilitating eye disease that may lead to visual distortion, loss in visual acuity and central blindness. More than 300,000 patients suffer from this disease in Europe alone. The results of these Phase III trials, which both met their primary endpoints, demonstrate the efficacy of ocriplasmin which, if approved, could be the first pharmaceutical therapy to treat patients with vitreomacular adhesion.see Stalmans P, Benz MS, Gandorfer A, et al. Enzymatic Vitreolysis with Ocriplasmin for Vitreomacular Traction and Macular Holes. N Engl J Med. 2012;367:606-615.