Source: PharmaLive
Area: News
According to a report by PharmaLive, the European Commission has approved a new indication for ranibizumab (Lucentis®) - to treat patients with visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO and central RVO). Ranibizumab is the first anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) therapy to be licensed for this indication in the EU.
RVO results from a blockage forming in a blood vessel in the retina. In CRVO, the blockage occurs in the main retinal vein at the optic nerve, whereas in BRVO, one of the four branches of the main retinal vein is affected. Both CRVO and BRVO can lead to macular oedema, which is the most common cause of visual impairment in patients with RVO. RVO often leads to increased production of VEGF, which can exacerbate RVO complications including macular oedema.
The approval of ranibizumab for this new indication was based on results of the CRUISE and BRAVO clinical trials.
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