Seeing the Game Change in DME

Based on positive data from an NIH-sponsored Phase III trial, it's likely that Lucentis ranibizumab will become part of the standard of care even before being approved for diabetic macular edema. Indeed, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is likely to incorporate the drug into its national treatment guidelines in a matter of weeks.

As a result, Lucentis or another VEGF inhibitor will become a de facto comparator in trials of other agents, which will make demonstrating an improvement over standard care much more difficult for companies following in the clinic...