Lucentis gains indication for macular edema after retinal vein occlusion

The FDA has approved Lucentis (ranibizumab injection, from Genentech) for the treatment of macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO). This approval was based on data from the BRAVO and CRUISE studies which evaluated Lucentis in patients with macular edema following branch-RVO or central-RVO. In the BRAVO study, 61% of patients gained 15 or more letters in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline at month six compared with 29% in the sham injection arm. In the CRUISE study, 48% of patients gained 15 or more letters in BCVA from baseline at month six compared with 17% in the sham injection arm. At month six, patients in BRAVO who received Lucentis had a mean gain of 18.3 letters compared to 7.3 letters in patients receiving sham injections. In the CRUISE study, at month six, patients who received Lucentis had a mean gain of 14.9 letters compared to 0.8 letters for patients receiving sham injections.

Lucentis is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor already approved for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

For more information call (866) LUCENTIS or visit www.lucentis.com/lucentis.