Biotech Values

[isolution]

VEGF Trap

I can’t recall if you have previously commented on REGN’s VEGF-Trap –i.e. whether it is likely to show better results than the kind of VEGF inhibition achieved by Avastin/Lucentis.[/]
Dew, not much data have been published on VEGF Trap and neovascularization.
It belongs obviously to the family of VEGF inhibitor, so if you refer to my post 256, I don't expect particular improvement compare to Lucentis or Macugen. It's supposed to have a better affinity than cited ones and better half-life, so it will act longer, on a more sustained way.
As it have a better affinity, they've chosen to deliver it systemically. But Saishin et al in Journal of cellular physiology (2003) don't exclude possible side-effects due to long-term systemic administration of VEGF inhibitor.
"Should systemic inhibition of VEGF prove problematic, there is an alternative,because we have shown that, as is the case for other anti-VEGF approaches (EyeTech Study Group, 2002; Kryzstolik et al., 2002), local administration of VEGF-TRAPR1R2 by intravitreous injection is a viable alternative."
Well, you know the rest of the story.
So this therapeutic agent might show slightly better results than Lucentis and Macugen if delivered locally, will probably discover some-dide effects during their phase I/II due to systemic administration and will have to switch to a local way of administration and be compared to the final results of Lucentis and Macugen, because they are quite late (enrollment of Phase I/II to begin in december 2003).
By this time, hopefully, Oxygen or Genaera will be able to show, not only slowing of the disease (The only thing VEGF inhibitors can show), but also curing.
I think Regeneron have missed the train.