Company Suspends Development of Novel Glaucoma Therapy

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Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX), has suspended the development of anecortave acetate for the treatment of elevated IOP associated with glaucoma. Earlier this year, investigators reported that the mean IOPs of six eyes of seven patients had dropped by approximately 33% (from 31.3 ±11.3 at baseline to 9.5 ±4.5 mm Hg) 1 week after receiving a 0.8-mL juxtascleral depot of anecortave acetate solution (24 mg). The patients maintained significantly reduced IOPs 6 months (8.4 ±5.4 mm Hg [29.6% ±12.4%]) and 12 months (9.5 ±5.4 mm Hg [34% ±15.9%]) after a single dose of the drug.¹

The company's decision to discontinue its research into anecortave acetate was based on the results of a phase 2 trial in which 200 patients were randomized to receive three different doses of the drug (24, 48, and

60 mg) or vehicle. Of all the groups, only the 60-mg cohort demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in mean IOP (3.8 mm Hg) compared with the vehicle. These results did not satisfy the study's goal of determining if "different doses of anecortave acetate could provide IOP reduction similar to existing topical medications but for a period of 3 months with a single injection."²

1. Robin AL, Clark AF, Covert DW, et al. Anterior juxtascleral delivery of anecortave acetate in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma: a pilot investigation. Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;147(1):45-50.
2. Alcon discontinues development of anecortave acetate for intraocular pressure reduction. Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Web site. http://invest.alconinc.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=130946&p=irol-pressReleasesArticle&ID=1304229&highlight=. Accessed July 13, 2009.

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