Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Lucentis meets DME primary endpoint in first US phase-3 trial:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Lucentis-Phase-III-Study-bw-2840955060.html?x=0&.v=1

…a significantly higher percentage of patients receiving monthly Lucentis achieved an improvement in vision (BCVA) of at least 15 letters on the eye chart at 24 months, compared to those in a control group, who received a placebo (sham) injection…. Topline results from the RISE study will be presented at the 34th Annual Macula Society Meeting, on March 10, 2011 in Boca Raton, Florida.

24-month data is standard for the primary endpoint in DME, which is a slower-developing disease than AMD.

The commercial significance of this result is unclear insofar as Lucentis and Avastin are widely used for DME off-label in the US, the only country in which Lucentis is sold by Roche.

Lucentis is already approved for DME in the EU (#msg-58523789), where it is sold by NVS.