Lucentis ranibizumab: Phase IIIb data

The double-blind, international Phase IIIb COMRADE-B trial in 244 patients with visual impairment due to macular edema following BRVO showed that once-monthly 0.5 mg intravitreal Lucentis for 3 months followed by as needed dosing met the primary endpoint of improving mean change in BCVA from baseline over 6 months vs. a 0.7 mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant with sham injections given as needed afterwards (14.15 vs. 9.66 letters, p<0.0001). Lucentis also met the secondary endpoint of reducing retinal thickness from baseline to 6 months vs. dexamethasone (275 vs. 130 Um reductions, p<0.001). Both treatment groups exhibited low rates of ocular and non-ocular safety events, except for a 9-fold higher incidence of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in the dexamethasone arm. Data were presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting in Orlando. ...