Systemic Avastin Therapy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration is one of the major
causes of blindness in the western world. It is already known that the vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in the development of CNV. Photodynamic therapy
(PDT), subretinal surgery, and intravitreal injection of VEGF- inhibitors are the common
treatments. These methods are either very invasive or need to be repeated several times over
long periods of time in order show some effect. Furthermore PDT can only be performed in eyes
with pigment epithelium detachments (PED) of maximum 50% of the avascular zone, while
intravitreal injections can lead to endophthalmitis and acute glaucoma. A systemic treatment,
which would only need to be administered 3 times within 6 weeks would be a major effort in
macular degeneration therapy.
Phase:
Phase 2/Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Retinology and Biomicroscopic Laser Surgery