New data on Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Jetrea (ocriplasmin) from over 40 abstracts, as well as new surgical retina products, were presented at this year's EURETINA Congress in London. The new data and products continue to highlight Novartis commitment to ophthalmology, and underscore its dedication to continually find new ways to protect and enhance eye health for patients.

Among the Lucentis highlights at EURETINA was the retrospective analysis of data from a US claims database. The database offers the first direct comparison of the risk of developing a condition known as endophthalmitis for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) treated with injections of Lucentis or aflibercept in the eye. A total of 253,647 Lucentis injections (in 54,551 patients) and 179,147 aflibercept injections (in 39,389 patients) were eligible for the analysis. The results suggest that the risk of endophthalmitis is 65 per cent higher following treatment with aflibercept than treatment with Lucentis. As with all retrospective analysis of important real word data, such results should be interpreted with caution and where feasible, verified by double-blind randomised controlled trials.

"The new Lucentis data at EURETINA supports its well-characterised and long-established safety profile and provides further support for its role as the only anti-VEGF therapy licenced for five ocular indications," said Vasant Narasimhan, Global Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Alcon presented further efficacy and safety data for the use of Jetrea at EURETINA. Two presentations highlighted real-world clinical experience; one of which, conducted at the Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute, demonstrated a high rate of release and closure of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) and macular hole (MH), highlighting the critical importance of appropriate patient selection with the use of this treatment. Data discussions from a second presentation indicate further evidence of a post-authorisation safety profile is consistent with that observed during the trials. Researchers also discussed vision-related quality-of-life experienced by patients following treatment with Jetrea. Analysis indicates that these patients displayed better improvements in their vision-related function compared to those who were administered a placebo-controlled injection.

Alcon also introduced several new instruments to its surgical vitreoretinal portfolio during EURETINA: the ULTRAVIT High Speed Vitrectomy Probes in various gauge sizes, 27+ vitrectomy packs with a full complement of 27-gauge instrumentation, as well as the FINESSE Flex Loop. These new technologies are designed to help ophthalmic surgeons deliver a higher level of precision and efficiency during vitreoretinal surgery. Vitreoretinal surgery is the surgical removal of the vitreous gel from the middle of the eye. The procedure allows ophthalmic surgeons to better access the back of the eye when treating retinal diseases.

The ULTRAVIT High Speed Vitrectomy Probes reduce pulsating traction on the retina, which can frequently cause tears and post-operative complications. The 27+ gauge system and instrument portfolio is designed to give surgeons exceptional access to the small tissue areas of the eye during complex retinal surgery procedures. The FINESSE Flex Loop is the newest member of Alcon's Grieshaber instrumentation portfolio, and is designed to create an edge on the retinal membrane to help peel and remove it during retinal surgery.

"Alcon's goal is to continually address the unmet medical needs of our patients," said Sabri Markabi, chief medical officer and senior vice president, research and development, Alcon. "The introduction of new surgical vitreoretinal instruments and, our focus on Jetrea as a viable option to address the sight-threatening disease of vitreomacular traction, are key examples of our dedication to providing meaningful treatments intended to improve the vision and overall quality of life of patients."

Novartis and its eye care division, Alcon, offer the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of quality surgical and pharmaceutical retina products available to deliver the best treatment outcomes to patients.

Lucentis was designed to save sight and has demonstrated transformational efficacy with individualised dosing in its licenced indications. As an antibody fragment with a short systemic half-life, Lucentis was specifically designed, developed, formulated and licenced for ocular conditions, and is manufactured to the highest standards for intra-ocular use.

Lucentis is licenced in more than 100 countries, for the treatment of wet AMD, visual impairment due to DME and for  visual impairment due to macular edema secondary to RVO, including both branch- and central-RVO. Also, Lucentis is licenced in more than 70 countries for the treatment of patients with visual impairment due to CNV secondary to pathologic myopia (myopic CNV). In most countries, including those in Europe, Lucentis has an individualised treatment regimen with the goal of maximising visual outcomes while minimising under- or over-treating patients.

Lucentis has a well-established safety profile supported by 43 extensive sponsored clinical studies and real-world experience. Its safety profile has been well established in a clinical development programme that enrolled more than 12,500 patients across indications and there is more than 2.4 million patient-treatment years of exposure since its launch in the United States in 2006.

Lucentis was developed by Genentech and Novartis. Genentech has the commercial rights to Lucentis in the United States. Novartis has exclusive rights in the rest of the world. Lucentis is a registered trademark of Genentech Inc.