Pegaptanib in the treatment of wet, age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of severe visual loss worldwide. Neovascular (wet) AMD accounts for 90% of the visual loss associated with the disorder and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a major role in neovascularization and vascular permeab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of nanomedicine 2006-01, Vol.1 (3), p.263-268
Main Author: Vinores, Stanley A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aptamers, Nucleotide - administration & dosage
Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy
Clinical Trials as Topic
Edema
Humans
Macular degeneration
Macular Degeneration - drug therapy
Monoclonal antibodies
Permeability
Review
Vascular endothelial growth factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors
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Summary:Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of severe visual loss worldwide. Neovascular (wet) AMD accounts for 90% of the visual loss associated with the disorder and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a major role in neovascularization and vascular permeability, the major causes of visual loss in AMD, making it an ideal target for therapeutic intervention. To utilize this strategy, pegaptanib, an aptamer that specifically binds to and blocks VEGF165, the VEGF isoform primarily responsible for abnormal vascular growth and permeability in AMD, was developed. Following encouraging preclinical trials, clinical trials showed that pegaptanib stabilized vision and reduced the risk of severe visual loss in the majority of patients with AMD, with some patients showing visual improvement. Pegaptanib has maintained a good safety profile with only occasional adverse effects. Even greater success was achieved when pegaptanib was used in combination with another therapeutic strategy, such as photodynamic therapy or bevacizumab, a pan isoform VEGF inhibitor. Further investigation of pegaptanib for the therapy of wet AMD, particularly in combination with other modes of therapy, should be encouraged.
ISSN:1176-9114
1178-2013