Alcon Discontinues Development of Anecortave Acetate for Intraocular Pressure ReductionBusiness Wire, 02.07.2009
Alcon, Inc. (NYSE:ACL) announced today that it has discontinued
development of anecortave acetate for the reduction of intraocular
pressure (IOP) associated with glaucoma. The company recently reviewed
interim efficacy and safety data from more than 200 patients in a large,
controlled Phase 2 trial. These data confirmed previous pilot clinical
results that anecortave acetate applied through a single anterior
juxtascleral injection measurably reduced IOP for an extended period of
time. However, based on a detailed analysis of the data, and after
gaining input from a panel of expert clinical advisers, the company
determined that the amount of IOP reduction and the responder rate
provided by even the highest dose were not sufficient to support this
novel approach as a viable way to address the problem of patient
compliance with eye drop therapy.
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