Regeneron: Eylea bests Avastin, Lucentis in DME

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) said top-line data from a comparative effectiveness study using VEGF drugs to treat diabetic macular edema showed its Eylea aflibercept was superior to Avastin bevacizumab and Lucentis ranibizumab from the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY).

In the 660-patient NIH-sponsored study, Regeneron said Eylea led to a greater change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 52 weeks compared to Avastin and Lucentis, the primary endpoint. According to its VEGF-A and placental growth factor ( PGF; PlGF). Avastin is a humanized mAb against VEGF, and Lucentis is a humanized mAb fragment. Only Lucentis and Eylea are approved for DME, although Avastin is used off label at the 1.25 mg dose. ...