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Vision hope for seniors
Macugen Hits Market to Treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Jan. 21, 2005 - Macugen (pegaptanib sodium
injection), the recently FDA-approved treatment for neovascular
age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is now available to retinal
specialists through three distributors, according to Eyetech
Pharmaceuticls, Inc. AMD is the leading cause
of irreversible, severe loss of vision in people 50 and older.
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Related Story |
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Macugen Effectiveness Fighting Macular Degeneration
Supported by Trials
Dec. 30, 2004 – Macugen (pegaptanib), the recently
FDA-approved treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration
(AMD), has received more proof of its effectiveness in two recent
clinical trials. AMD is the primary cause for vision loss in senior
citizens. More...
12/30/04*
Macugen Approved by FDA for Treatment for
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Dec. 21, 2004 - The Food and Drug Administration
yesterday announced the approval of Macugen (pegaptanib sodium
injection), a new therapy to slow vision loss in people with the eye
disease neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the
major cause of vision loss in senior citizens.
More...
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The three distributors are McKesson Specialty,
Priority Healthcare and Besse Medical. These distributors will be
providing Macugen within 24-48 hours to retinal specialists, who will
make the product available to the patients who suffer from neovascular
(wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
"We have worked diligently to make Macugen
available to patients as soon as possible, since there is currently no
other medication approved for all neovascular AMD. This disease
represents a large unmet medical need, and Macugen has been shown to
preserve vision," said David R. Guyer, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of
Eyetech Pharmaceuticals.
Macugen was approved by the FDA on December 17,
2004 for use in the treatment of neovascular AMD, the most common cause
of blindness in people older than 50 years of age in developed
countries. Interest in the treatment was spurred by a report of two
recent clinical trials that confirmed its effectiveness.
There are 15 million people in the United States
living with some form of AMD, with more than 1.6 million experiencing
the active blood vessel growth and blood vessel leakage associated with
neovascular AMD.
There are over 200,000 new cases of neovascular AMD
each year and this number is expected to increase significantly as the
baby boomer generation ages and overall life expectancy increases.
Presently, over 500,000 people worldwide lose their
sight annually from the disease.
About Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a
biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and
commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat diseases of the eye.
Eyetech's initial focus is on diseases affecting the back of the eye.
Eyetech is commercializing and further developing Macugen(R) (pegaptanib
sodium injection) with Pfizer Inc for the treatment of neovascular AMD.
Macugen is also being studied for the treatment of diabetic macular
edema and retinal vein occlusion.
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