Injectable dissolving implant offers benefit for branch and central retinal vein occlusion

NEW YORK — A biodegradable implant containing dexamethasone that is injected into the vitreous cavity produces significantly improved vision compared with sham in patients treated for branch or central retinal vein occlusion.

Julia A. Haller

Overall, 41% of patients in a phase 3 trial of Ozurdex (Allergan) had a 15-letter improvement in vision from baseline compared with 23% of sham-treated patients and half the risk of visual loss, according to Julia A. Haller, MD, who presented the data here at Retina Congress 2009.

The greatest visual benefit was noted at 6 months, Dr. Haller said. As well, while the implant was well-tolerated, there was a slight rise in mean IOP at day 180, followed by a return to baseline thereafter.

Re-treatment was permitted after 6 months on an as-needed basis. Twenty percent of overall patients, 21% of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and 17% of patients with central retinal vein occlusion required one dose by the end of follow-up.

At 6 months, patients in the sham arm were permitted to cross over to the treatment arm. While there was visual gain in crossover patients, "patients treated later in the protocol never caught up," Dr. Haller said, suggesting a benefit for early intervention, similar to how vaso-occlusive disorders in other parts of the body are managed.