Novartis details brolucizumab wet AMD data
In a media briefing Friday, Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) detailed secondary endpoint data from the Phase III HAWK and HARRIER trials of brolucizumab (RTH258) to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and touted the candidate's potential dosing advantage over Eylea aflibercept from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN). Brolucizumab is a next-generation single-chain anti-VEGF antibody fragment.
Novartis said intravitreal 6 mg brolucizumab was superior to Eylea in reducing retinal fluid and thickness, which were both secondary endpoints. Compared to Eylea, brolucizumab reduced the number of patients with retinal fluid by 33-35% at week 16 in the trials and by 31-41% at week 48. Brolucizumab was non-inferior to Eylea on all secondary endpoints...