NYT: In Trial, Drug Aids Vision of Elderly (macular degeneration)

[DeepModem Mom]

In Trial, Drug Aids Vision of Elderly
By ANDREW POLLACK
Published: May 24, 2005


A drug developed by Genentech significantly improved the eyesight of people with a condition that is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, the company said yesterday.

The results represent the first time that a drug for the disease - age-related macular degeneration - has been able to improve vision, not just preserve it, in a large clinical trial. It thus represents a potentially big advance.

"If this pans out, it would be a significant advantage," said Dr. Julia A. Haller, a professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University who was involved in the trial and has occasionally consulted for Genentech. "People want to be able to read and drive; they don't want to just hold on to moderate vision loss."

There are two drugs already approved to treat macular degeneration, Visudyne, from QLT and Novartis; and Macugen, from Eyetech Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer. Both drugs slow the deterioration of eyesight but do not generally improve it....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/24/business/24drug.html

[zanne]

1. I'm remembering my aunt...

She had macular degeneration. It was really sad, because she loved to read. She did go completely blind after awhile and just couldn't get the hang of Braille. She would have someone come in to read to her a few hours every week, but she said it just wasn't the same.
I hope these new drugs are effective, because old age is hard enough without having to go blind.

[rodeodance]

2. i have friend who developed it in her 20's.

[zanne]

4. How sad.

Was she able to adjust to her condition?

[DeepModem Mom]

3. My mother had it, and I think it might have hastened the Alzheimer's...

she eventually developed, by limiting her sensory world.

[Ian David]

5. Unfortunately, all 3 drugs are only for the "wet" macular degeneration

And my grandfather has the "dry" kind.


<snip>

The trial involved 716 patients who either received an injection of Lucentis in their eye once a month or received a sham injection.

Ow! Imagine being stuck in the eye with a needle once a month and then finding out you were in the placebo group!

<snip>

A secondary goal was improved vision. Genentech said those treated with Lucentis had, on average, a significant improvement while the control group had a decline.

But Genentech did not report the percentage of people with an improvement of at least three lines on the eye chart, an amount considered meaningful to patients.

<snip>

However, the Macugen trial involved all subtypes of the disease while the Lucentis trial excluded patients with a subtype that is subject to the most rapid vision deterioration, Dr. Haller said.