Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia, Inc. - 8 Dec 1995
The Vitrasert implant, developed by Chiron Corp. and Roche Holdings' Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. unit, is a drug delivery system that is surgically placed in the rear of the eye.
The system allows diffusion of Roche's ganciclovir drug to the site of the infection over an extended period. Chiron officials said the system is effective in the treatment of CMV retinitis, a chronic infection of the retina that can lead to blindness in AIDS patients.
"We are pleased with the committee's recommendation and will work with the FDA to ensure the most rapid availability of this new and important therapy for a tragic condition that robs many people with AIDS of their vision," said Willam Link, chief executive for Chiron Vision.
Chiron said data from its Phase Three Trial of 188 AIDS patients with newly diagnosed CMV Retinitis showed the implant is more effective than traditional intravenous treatment. The company said the study showed eyes treated with Vitrasert had a median time to progression of 194 days, vs. 72 days for eyes on intravenous treatment.
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