Authors' objectives:

To summarise the currently available evidence on anecortave acetate for age-related macular degeneration.

Authors' recommendations: Anecortave acetate (RETAANE(TM)) is a new treatment for subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) associated with wet-type age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Anecortave acetate is administered by posterior juxtascleral depot repeated every six months for as long as patients continue to benefit. A placebo-controlled phase II/III trial in 128 patients found that six months after treatment visual acuity was significantly better (p=0.003) in the anecortave acetate group than the placebo group. At 12 months anecortave acetate was statistically superior to placebo for mean change from baseline vision, stabilization of vision (<3 LogMAR line change), and prevention of severe vision loss (decrease of = 6 LogMAR lines from baseline). Three further phase III trials are ongoing including a randomised trial of 522 patients comparing anecortave acetate with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2004

URL for published report: http://www.psy-flow.com/sites/psy-flow/files/docs/flow.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC)