Aganirsen drops inhibit neovascularization

Aganirsen eye drops inhibited corneal neovascularization in patients with keratitis and reduced the need for transplantation in patients who have viral keratitis and central neovascularization, according to a Phase III study of 69 patients reported in Ophthalmology. Aganirsen is an antisense oligonucleotide preventing insulin receptor substrate-1 expression.

Researchers in the I-CAN Study randomized 34 patients with keratitis-related progressive corneal neovascularization to receive aganirsen (86 μg/day/eye) and 35 patients to receive placebo. The patients administered the drops twice daily for 90 days and were followed up to day 180.

After 90 days, the patients in the aganirsen group had a 26% reduction in the relative corneal neovascularization area (P = 0.014). This improvement was maintained after 180 days (P = 0.012). The patients in the aganirsen group had a lower transplantation need in the intent-to-treat population at day 180 (P = 0.087). In addition, a significant reduction in transplantation need was achieved in patients with viral keratitis and central neovascularization (P = 0.048).

No significant differences in visual acuity scores or graft rejection were observed between the two groups, but patients in the aganirsen group with traumatic/viral keratitis tended to have a reduced risk of graft rejection at day 90 (P = 0.162).

A quality-of-life analysis found a significant improvement in composite and near activity subscores in the aganirsen group at day 90.

To read an abstract of the study, click here.