Ophthotech announced today the treatment of its first patient with Volociximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting alpha5beta1 integrin, in a Phase I trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
PRINCETON, NJ and NEW YORK, NY, USA | November 10, 2008 | Ophthotech Corp. announced today the treatment of its first patient with Volociximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting alpha5beta1 integrin, in a Phase I trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Ophthotech is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing ophthalmic therapies for both wet and dry AMD. Volociximab represents Ophthotech’s third compound in clinical development. This Phase I trial will assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of Volociximab.
"There is strong scientific rationale for alpha5beta1 integrin antagonism to interrupt the cell survival signals in neovascular tissue and associated inflammation in eyes afflicted with AMD. Ophthotech’s monoclonal antibody, Volociximab, holds great promise as a potential breakthrough therapy for the wet and dry forms of AMD," said Scott W. Cousins, MD, the Robert Machemer, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology at Duke University, and the director of the Duke Center for Macular Diseases at the Duke Eye Center.
"Initiating clinical development of Volociximab, our third compound, is an important milestone, as it demonstrates our commitment to developing and commercializing therapies for both wet and dry AMD in an accelerated manner," said Samir Patel, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ophthotech.
This trial involves the company’s third compound in clinical development to date. Recently, Ophthotech enrolled its first patient in a Phase I complement inhibition trial for age-related macular degeneration with its anti-C5 complement factor aptamer, ARC1905, in combination with an anti-VEGF agent. In February 2008, the company initiated a Phase I trial with E10030, an anti-PDGF aptamer, also in combination with an anti-VEGF agent, for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. A dry AMD trial with ARC1905 is scheduled to commence in 2009.
About Volociximab (M200)
Volociximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting alpha5beta1 integrin, a key protein involved in the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). alpha5beta1 integrin is a critical survival factor for proliferating endothelial cells involved in angiogenesis. Volociximab blocks the binding of alpha5beta1 to fibronectin, thereby disrupting a variety of processes involved in neovascularization. Inhibition of alpha5beta1 integrin has demonstrated potent anti-angiogenic effects in multiple preclinical models of angiogenesis. Unlike current therapies such as ranibizumab and bevacizumab, Volociximab inhibits endothelial cell proliferation downstream of growth factor stimulation, irrespective of the upstream proangiogenic stimulating factors. In January 2008, Ophthotech licensed worldwide development and commercial rights to all ophthalmic uses of Volociximab from Biogen Idec and PDL. For more information about Volociximab, please visit http://www.ophthotech.com/a5B1.asp.
About AMD
AMD is the leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 50 in the United States and Europe. The role of abnormal neovascularization, or angiogenesis, in the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD has been well established. There are two forms of the disease, namely "dry" and "wet" AMD. The "wet" form is characterized by the growth of new blood vessels into the central region of the retina. These new vessels cause severe visual loss due to retinal damage caused by subsequent leakage and scar formation. Anti-VEGF therapies and photodynamic therapies have been approved for "wet" AMD. "Dry" AMD accounts for up to 90 percent of all cases of AMD. There is no approved therapy for "dry" AMD, which afflicts 8 million patients in the United States and an additional 8 million in Europe. Visual loss in "dry" AMD is typically not as severe as "wet" AMD, however, over time, "dry" AMD can progress to the wet form of the disease.
About Ophthotech
Ophthotech Corp. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for back-of-the-eye diseases. Ophthotech plans to develop a pipeline of compounds with strong scientific foundations for the treatment of AMD and bring them to market in an accelerated manner. In August of 2007, Ophthotech announced a Series A venture financing and two separate in-licensing deals with Archemix Corp. and (OSI) Eyetech. A third in-license from Biogen Idec and PDL BioPharma was announced in January of 2008. Ophthotech’s venture investors include SV Life Sciences, HBM BioVentures and Novo A/S. For more information, please visit http://www.ophthotech.com.
SOURCE: Ophthotech Corp.
Post Views: 81
Ophthotech announced today the treatment of its first patient with Volociximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting alpha5beta1 integrin, in a Phase I trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
PRINCETON, NJ and NEW YORK, NY, USA | November 10, 2008 | Ophthotech Corp. announced today the treatment of its first patient with Volociximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting alpha5beta1 integrin, in a Phase I trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Ophthotech is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing ophthalmic therapies for both wet and dry AMD. Volociximab represents Ophthotech’s third compound in clinical development. This Phase I trial will assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of Volociximab.
"There is strong scientific rationale for alpha5beta1 integrin antagonism to interrupt the cell survival signals in neovascular tissue and associated inflammation in eyes afflicted with AMD. Ophthotech’s monoclonal antibody, Volociximab, holds great promise as a potential breakthrough therapy for the wet and dry forms of AMD," said Scott W. Cousins, MD, the Robert Machemer, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology at Duke University, and the director of the Duke Center for Macular Diseases at the Duke Eye Center.
"Initiating clinical development of Volociximab, our third compound, is an important milestone, as it demonstrates our commitment to developing and commercializing therapies for both wet and dry AMD in an accelerated manner," said Samir Patel, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ophthotech.
This trial involves the company’s third compound in clinical development to date. Recently, Ophthotech enrolled its first patient in a Phase I complement inhibition trial for age-related macular degeneration with its anti-C5 complement factor aptamer, ARC1905, in combination with an anti-VEGF agent. In February 2008, the company initiated a Phase I trial with E10030, an anti-PDGF aptamer, also in combination with an anti-VEGF agent, for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. A dry AMD trial with ARC1905 is scheduled to commence in 2009.
About Volociximab (M200)
Volociximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting alpha5beta1 integrin, a key protein involved in the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). alpha5beta1 integrin is a critical survival factor for proliferating endothelial cells involved in angiogenesis. Volociximab blocks the binding of alpha5beta1 to fibronectin, thereby disrupting a variety of processes involved in neovascularization. Inhibition of alpha5beta1 integrin has demonstrated potent anti-angiogenic effects in multiple preclinical models of angiogenesis. Unlike current therapies such as ranibizumab and bevacizumab, Volociximab inhibits endothelial cell proliferation downstream of growth factor stimulation, irrespective of the upstream proangiogenic stimulating factors. In January 2008, Ophthotech licensed worldwide development and commercial rights to all ophthalmic uses of Volociximab from Biogen Idec and PDL. For more information about Volociximab, please visit http://www.ophthotech.com/a5B1.asp.
About AMD
AMD is the leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 50 in the United States and Europe. The role of abnormal neovascularization, or angiogenesis, in the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD has been well established. There are two forms of the disease, namely "dry" and "wet" AMD. The "wet" form is characterized by the growth of new blood vessels into the central region of the retina. These new vessels cause severe visual loss due to retinal damage caused by subsequent leakage and scar formation. Anti-VEGF therapies and photodynamic therapies have been approved for "wet" AMD. "Dry" AMD accounts for up to 90 percent of all cases of AMD. There is no approved therapy for "dry" AMD, which afflicts 8 million patients in the United States and an additional 8 million in Europe. Visual loss in "dry" AMD is typically not as severe as "wet" AMD, however, over time, "dry" AMD can progress to the wet form of the disease.
About Ophthotech
Ophthotech Corp. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for back-of-the-eye diseases. Ophthotech plans to develop a pipeline of compounds with strong scientific foundations for the treatment of AMD and bring them to market in an accelerated manner. In August of 2007, Ophthotech announced a Series A venture financing and two separate in-licensing deals with Archemix Corp. and (OSI) Eyetech. A third in-license from Biogen Idec and PDL BioPharma was announced in January of 2008. Ophthotech’s venture investors include SV Life Sciences, HBM BioVentures and Novo A/S. For more information, please visit http://www.ophthotech.com.
SOURCE: Ophthotech Corp.
Post Views: 81
