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Efficacy/Safety of Verteporfin Photodynamic Therapy and Ranibizumab Compared With Ranibizumab in Patients With Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Macular Degeneration
Choroidal Neovascularization
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00436553
Lead Sponsor
Novartis
Brief Summary

This study evaluated the effect of combination therapy with verteporfin photodynamic therapy and ranibizumab on visual acuity and anatomic outcomes compared to ranibizumab monotherapy and the durability of response observed in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
321
Inclusion Criteria
  • Subjects of either gender age 50 years or older
  • Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Choroidal neovascularization due to causes other than AMD
  • Prior treatment for neovascular AMD in the study eye

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Verteporfin With Reduced Fluence Rate Plus RanibizumabRanibizumab PlaceboPatients received three consecutive monthly ranibizumab injections on Day 1 and at Months 1 and 2, and thereafter as needed at intervals of at least 30 days based on retreatment criteria. These patients also received verteporfin PDT with reduced fluence (RF) rate on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. From month 3 onward, retreatments were determined based on study-specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA). Patients received sham intravitreal injections for the first 12 months if retreatment with ranibizumab was not warranted based on the retreatment criteria.
Verteporfin With Standard Fluence Rate Plus RanibizumabVerteporfin Photodynamic TherapyPatients received three consecutive monthly ranibizumab injections on Day 1 and at Months 1 and 2, and thereafter as needed at intervals of at least 30 days based on retreatment criteria. These patients also received verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) with standard fluence (SF) rate on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. From month 3 onward, retreatments were determined based on study-specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA). Patients received sham intravitreal injections for the first 12 months if retreatment with ranibizumab was not warranted based on the retreatment criteria.
Ranibizumab MonotherapyVerteporfin PlaceboPatients received monthly ranibizumab injections for 12 months and thereafter as needed based on the retreatment criteria. These patients were also administered verteporfin placebo infusion with sham PDT on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. Retreatments were determined based on study specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA).
Verteporfin With Reduced Fluence Rate Plus RanibizumabVerteporfin Photodynamic TherapyPatients received three consecutive monthly ranibizumab injections on Day 1 and at Months 1 and 2, and thereafter as needed at intervals of at least 30 days based on retreatment criteria. These patients also received verteporfin PDT with reduced fluence (RF) rate on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. From month 3 onward, retreatments were determined based on study-specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA). Patients received sham intravitreal injections for the first 12 months if retreatment with ranibizumab was not warranted based on the retreatment criteria.
Verteporfin With Standard Fluence Rate Plus RanibizumabRanibizumab PlaceboPatients received three consecutive monthly ranibizumab injections on Day 1 and at Months 1 and 2, and thereafter as needed at intervals of at least 30 days based on retreatment criteria. These patients also received verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) with standard fluence (SF) rate on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. From month 3 onward, retreatments were determined based on study-specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA). Patients received sham intravitreal injections for the first 12 months if retreatment with ranibizumab was not warranted based on the retreatment criteria.
Verteporfin With Standard Fluence Rate Plus RanibizumabRanibizumabPatients received three consecutive monthly ranibizumab injections on Day 1 and at Months 1 and 2, and thereafter as needed at intervals of at least 30 days based on retreatment criteria. These patients also received verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) with standard fluence (SF) rate on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. From month 3 onward, retreatments were determined based on study-specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA). Patients received sham intravitreal injections for the first 12 months if retreatment with ranibizumab was not warranted based on the retreatment criteria.
Ranibizumab MonotherapyRanibizumabPatients received monthly ranibizumab injections for 12 months and thereafter as needed based on the retreatment criteria. These patients were also administered verteporfin placebo infusion with sham PDT on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. Retreatments were determined based on study specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA).
Verteporfin With Reduced Fluence Rate Plus RanibizumabRanibizumabPatients received three consecutive monthly ranibizumab injections on Day 1 and at Months 1 and 2, and thereafter as needed at intervals of at least 30 days based on retreatment criteria. These patients also received verteporfin PDT with reduced fluence (RF) rate on Day 1 and then as needed from Month 3 at intervals of at least 90 days based on the retreatment criteria. From month 3 onward, retreatments were determined based on study-specific retreatment criteria that included retinal thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), sub-retinal hemorrhage evaluated by ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity assessed using Early treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leakage assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA). Patients received sham intravitreal injections for the first 12 months if retreatment with ranibizumab was not warranted based on the retreatment criteria.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mean Change From Baseline in Best-corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) of the Study Eye at Month 12Baseline and Month 12

BCVA score was based on the number of letters read correctly on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart assessed at a starting distance of 4 meters. An ETDRS visual acuity score of 85 is approximately 20/20. An increase in the VA score indicates improvement in visual acuity.

Percent of Patients With a Treatment-free Interval of at Least 3 Months Following the Month 2 VisitMonth 2 up to Month 11

The number of patients with a ranibizumab treatment-free interval, ie, no active ranibizumab treatments for at least 3 months duration (at least 2 consecutive monthly visits), anytime following the Month 2 ranibizumab treatment. Only active ranibizumab treatments were considered.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change From Baseline in Total Area of Leakage of the Study Eye at Month 12Baseline and Month 12

Total area of leakage of the study eye was assessed at the Central Reading Center (CRC) using Fluorescein angiography (FA).

Percentage of Patients With Fluorescein Leakage in the Study Eye at Month 12Month 12

The percentage of patients with leakage of the study eye was assessed at the Central Reading Center (CRC) using Fluorescein angiography (FA).

Change From Baseline in Central Retinal Thickness at Month 12Baseline and Month 12

Optical coherence tomography was performed in the study eyes and the evaluations of the images were performed by the central reading center.

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

Novartis Investigative SIte

🇺🇸

Royal Oak, Michigan, United States

Ivey Eye Institute, Dr. Thomas Sheidow

🇨🇦

London, Ontario, Canada

West Coast Retina Medical Group Inc. - 185 Berry St. Suite 130

🇺🇸

San Francisco, California, United States

Novartis Investigative Site

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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