Foundation News » Macular Degeneration
Emerging Therapy Reduces Number of Lucentis Injections for Wet AMD
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March 13, 2013 – An emerging low-radiation treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) known as Oraya Therapy™ reduced the number of Lucentis™ injections that people receive for the treatment of recurring wet AMD. In Oraya’s 230-person, Phase II/III clinical trial across Europe, the treatment reduced the need for Lucentis injections by 32 percent. Typically, when people get wet AMD, they initially receive at least three monthly injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies, such as Lucentis, Avastin™ or Eylea™, to mop up the leaky blood vessels causing vision loss. However, the blood vessels inevitably return, and retreatment is needed. The goal of Oraya Therapy is to reduce the number of injections needed to treat recurring disease. “The emergence of vision-saving anti-VEGF therapies over the last seven years has been life-changing for people with wet AMD,” says Dr. Stephen Rose, chief research officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness. “However, injections to the eye are costly and inconvenient, especially when they are needed for the rest of the patient’s life. Reducing the number of injections through a treatment like Oraya would be of significant benefit.” Oraya Therapy takes about 20 minutes and can be delivered in a doctor’s office. During the procedure, the patient is seated in a chair while a low-energy x-ray beam is focused on affected regions of the macula, the central retina. Research has shown that radiation not only inhibits the growth of leaky blood vessels; it can also reduce the damaging inflammation and scarring associated with wet AMD. A euronews video provides additional information about Oraya Therapy. |
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