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From Collegiate Presswire's RadioWire (https://www.cpwire.com/radio): Radio Suggested anchor lead: Age-related Macular Degeneration is a debilitating disease whose incidence will increase dramatically as our population ages. A new treatment for the more severe form of AMD has just been approved by the FDA, offering hope for seniors whose eyesight may be at risk. Narrator: Age-related Macular Degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of blindness in older Americans. More than 1.6 million people have advanced AMD and this number is expected to rise to 6.3 million by 2030. There are two kinds of AMD: wet and dry. Wet AMD occurs in 10% of AMD patients, but is more severe and accounts for 90% of vision loss. Until now, treatment options have been limited. The FDA has approved Macugen� (pegaptanib sodium injection), a treatment that helps preserve vision in wet AMD patients and helps limit progression of AMD, a disease that can lead to legal blindness. Dr. Donald D�Amico of Harvard Medical School: Dr. Donald d�amico: �Macugen is an important advance in the treatment of wet AMD. It has the potential to allow treatment of many more patients with wet AMD.� Narrator: Macugen is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2005. If you experience a change in vision, immediately see your eye doctor. Only your doctor can prescribe a treatment that is right for you. Suggested anchor close: For additional information about Age-related Macular Degeneration and Macugen, visit www.macugen.com or call 800-438-1985. Macugen is indicated for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure occurring in <1% of intravitreal injections included endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and iatrogenic traumatic cataract. Most frequently reported adverse events in patients treated for up to 2 years were alterations in vision, anterior chamber inflammation, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, corneal edema, eye discharge, eye pain, hypertension, increased intraocular pressure (iop), punctate keratitis and vitreous floaters and opacities. Macugen is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections. Intravitreal injections including those with Macugen have been associated with endophthalmitis. Proper aseptic injection technique should always be utilized when administering Macugen. In addition, patients should be monitored during the week following the injection to permit early treatment should an infection occur. Increases in iop have been seen within 30 minutes of injection. Therefore, iop and retinal perfusion should be monitored and managed appropriately. See the product insert for more information about Macugen. CLICK HERE to download a transcript of this story: CLICK HERE to download a multimedia (MP3) file of this story: © Copyright 2004 Collegiate Presswire, Inc. and NBN/CP RadioWire |