Bayer and Regeneron expand VEGF Trap-Eye trial program to include CRVO

Germany's Bayer HealthCare AG and the USA's Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have extended their development program for VEGF Trap-Eye, an  investigational new treatment for certain eye diseases, to include  central retinal vein occlusion. The companies plan to initiate a Phase  III program evaluating the efficacy and safety of VEGF Trap-Eye in the  treatment of this disease in the second half of this year. CRVO is  caused by obstruction of the central retinal vein that leads to retinal  injury and loss of vision. The study program will consist of two,  multinational, one-year trials that have been reviewed by US and  European regulators. The treatment is already in two ongoing Phase III  studies in patients with the neovascular form of age-related macular  degeneration and a Phase II trial in diabetic macular edema.