Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare announced that Bayer HealthCare has submitted an application for marketing authorization in Europe for VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Regeneron and Bayer HealthCare are collaborating on the global development of VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of wet AMD, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), diabetic macular edema (DME), and myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).

"The submission of VEGF Trap-Eye for EU marketing authorization represents a significant milestone in our goal to bring this potentially important new therapy to patients with wet AMD across the globe," said Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Regeneron.

The VEGF Trap-Eye submission is based on the positive results from two Phase 3 trials, the VIEW 1 study and the VIEW 2 study.  In these trials, all regimens of VEGF Trap-Eye, including 2 mg VEGF Trap-Eye dosed every two months (following three loading doses), successfully met the primary endpoint of non-inferiority, compared to the current standard of care, ranibizumab 0.5 mg dosed every month.  The primary endpoint analysis was statistical non-inferiority in the proportion of patients who maintained (or improved) vision over 52 weeks compared to ranibizumab at the dose that is currently known to provide the best possible efficacy.  A generally favorable safety profile was observed for both VEGF Trap-Eye and ranibizumab.  The ocular adverse events were balanced across all treatment groups in both studies.  There were no notable differences in non-ocular adverse events among the study arms.

Regeneron submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for marketing approval in wet AMD in the US in February 2011 and received a Priority Review designation.

Bayer HealthCare will market VEGF Trap-Eye outside the United States, where the companies will share equally the profits from any future sales of VEGF Trap-Eye.  Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to VEGF Trap-Eye in the United States.

The VIEW (VEGF Trap-Eye: Investigation of Efficacy and Safety in Wet AMD) programme consists of two randomized, double-masked, phase 3 clinical trials evaluating VEGF Trap-Eye in the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).  The VIEW 1 study, which randomized 1,217 patients, is being conducted in the United States and Canada by Regeneron under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the US Food and Drug Administration.  The VIEW 2 study, which randomized 1,240 patients, is being conducted in Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Latin America by Bayer HealthCare.  The study designs are essentially identical.  The primary endpoint evaluation was conducted at 52 weeks.

In each of the studies, VEGF Trap-Eye was evaluated for its effect on maintaining and improving vision when dosed as an intravitreal injection on a schedule of 0.5 mg monthly, 2 mg monthly, or 2 mg every two months (following three monthly loading doses), as compared with intravitreal ranibizumab administered 0.5 mg every month during the first year of the studies.  As-needed (PRN) dosing with both agents, with a dose administered at least every three months (but not more often than monthly) is being evaluated during the second year of each study.

VEGF Trap-Eye is a fully human fusion protein, consisting of portions of VEGF receptors 1 and 2, that binds all forms of VEGF-A along with the related Placental Growth Factor (PlGF).  VEGF Trap-Eye is a specific and highly potent blocker of these growth factors.  VEGF Trap-Eye is specially purified and contains iso-osmotic buffer concentrations, allowing for injection into the eye.

Regeneron and Bayer HealthCare are collaborating on the global development of VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of the neovascular form of age related macular degeneration (wet AMD), central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), diabetic macular edema (DME), myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV), and other eye diseases and disorders.

Regeneron submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for marketing approval in wet AMD in the U.S. in February 2011 and received a Priority Review designation.  Under Priority Review, the target date for an FDA decision on the VEGF Trap-Eye BLA is August 20, 2011.

In April 2011, Bayer HealthCare and Regeneron announced the initiation of a Phase 3 program in DME.

Bayer HealthCare will market VEGF Trap-Eye outside the United States, where the companies will share equally the profits from any future sales of VEGF Trap-Eye.  Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to VEGF Trap-Eye in the United States.

Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions.  

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials.  Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of more than EUR 16.913 billion (2010), is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany.