Vitrasert intraocular insert delivering ganciclovir data

CHIR's Chiron Vision Inc. (Irvine, Calif.) and collaborators published data on the efficacy of the insert to deliver ganciclovir in the eye, showing that time to progression of the CMV infection in AIDS is significantly slowed. However, the other eye may be more likely to develop infection compared to use of systemic ganciclovir. Other organs also may be more at risk of CMV infection when the insert is used instead of systemic therapy, the report in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded.

In 173 patients who completed the treatment protocols (188 enrolled), mean time to progression of retinitis was 221 and 191 days with implants delivering 1 or 2 µg per hour, respectively, compared to 71 days with intravenous ganciclovir (p<0.001). ...