Potentia unveils AMD drug results

A Phase I trial of POT-4, a complement inhibitor in development for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), have demonstrated that the agent is safe and well tolerated. The results were presented by Potentia Pharmaceuticals during the Retina Subspecialty Day at the meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The ASaP (Assessment of Safety of Intravitreal POT-4 Therapy for Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration) trial is a multicentre single escalating dose (up to 150 µg) study. No serious adverse events, toxic reactions or inflammation were noted, supporting the safety profile of intravitreal POT-4.

POT-4, the first complement inhibitor to be tested in humans, is designed to reduce inflammation and modify the upregulation of factors influencing angiogenesis - including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - by binding to complement component C3. Based on these study results, Potentia plans to continue its trials of intravitreal POT-4 in both wet and dry AMD.