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Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Cand5 Drug Tested for Safety in MD Patients
Results from a safety trial of the siRNA drug Cand5, developed by Acuity Pharmaceuticals to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, were presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. John Thompson MD, from the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in the US, presented the trial results, explaining that Cand5 works by inhibiting the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the retina.
Each of the doses of Cand5 was found to be safe and well tolerated following repeated administration at escalating doses, Dr. Thompson said. Pharmacokinetic analysis suggested that there was no systemic exposure to Cand5 at any dose level, meaning the therapeutic effect was confined to the retina and did not migrate anywhere else in the body.
No particular safety concerns with Cand5 were identified, and the most commonly reported adverse events were related to the injection procedure. No increases in intraocular pressure were observed.
Based on these findings, Dr. Thompson said, a phase 2 trial has been approved by the FDA and is now enrolling patients.
'Gene Therapy Trials Show Promise in Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Presented at AAO' (Doctor's Guide, 1 November 2005).
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