Drug trial results look good for dry AMD treatment

Positive interim data results from the Phase II trial of OT-551 to treat geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of AMD, have been announced by Othera Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The 12-month findings from the two year OMEGA trial are reported to show an emerging trend for a moderate reduction in vision loss in patients who were treated with OT-551 compared to those receiving a placebo.

OT-551 is an eye drop and contains a hydroxylamine anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory molecule that targets oxidative stress and inflammation pathways, believed to be involved in AMD.

When asked by Visiongain in its recent report looking at Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals 2009-2023 how Othera sees OT-551 in comparison to Lucentis and Avastin Dr Al Reaves, Othera's Senior Vice President of Clinical Development said: "It's hard to draw comparisons since these drugs treat very different types of AMD disease (dry versus wet). That said, if OT-551 demonstrates the ability to slow down or halt the atrophic progression, then it could become one of the most significant therapeutic advances in ophthalmology since Lucentis. Lucentis and Avastin only address wet AMD, which accounts for up to 10% of all AMD patients, whereas OT-551 targets the dry form of AMD which includes the remaining 90%. The NEI [National Eye Institute (US)] estimates that the number of people in the US alone with dry AMD could exceed 20 million by 202 and the prevalence is similar in developed countries of the world."