Bayer HealthCare seeks EU marketing authorization of VEGF Trap-Eye for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) 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 U.S. 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.