Positive phase 2 results reported for implantable wet AMD treatment

An investigational port delivery system with ranibizumab showed positive phase 2 results in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, according to a Genentech press release.

The multicenter, randomized, interventional, active treatment-controlled LADDER study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the port delivery system (PDS), a small, refillable eye implant that continuously delivers ranibizumab over time, in 243 patients.

Those who had the PDS implanted received one of three ranibizumab concentrations, 10 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL or 100 mg/mL, the release said. Approximately 80% of those in the 100 mg/mL group did not need a refill for at least 6 months. Approximately 71.3% of the 40 mg/mL group and 63.5% of the 10 mg/mL group were able to go 6 months or longer before a refill.

“LADDER is the first successful phase 2 study of a long-acting delivery device for the treatment of wet AMD. We are highly encouraged by these results and the potential of the PDS, our first implantable, drug delivery program,” Sandra Horning, MD, Genentech’s chief medical officer and head of global product development, said in the release. “With the PDS, we have an opportunity to make a positive impact by helping to potentially eliminate the burden of frequent treatments for people with wet AMD.”