Alcon, Inc. has terminated the development programme designed to evaluate the benefit of anecortave acetate treatment on the risk for developing sight-threatening choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The decision followed a planned interim analysis of studies C-02-60 A and B that was performed after 2,546 patients had completed the 24 month time point. In this analysis, anecortave acetate showed no effect on the primary or secondary endpoints.

In addition to terminating studies C-02-60 A and B, the company also terminated two smaller studies with an identical design that were being conducted in Asia, C-04-30 and C-05-34, a company press release stated.

The company continues to study anecortave acetate administered as an anterior juxtascleral depot to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

Alcon, Inc. is the world's leading eye care company, with sales of approximately $5.6 billion in 2007. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for more than 60 years, researches, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens care solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye.