Antiangiogenesis agents.
Although these preliminary results on the use of antiangiogenesis drugs for the treatment of neovascular AMD appear promising, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trials are needed to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of such treatments. For example, the first antiangiogenesis drug tested in AMD, interferon alpha-2a, raised great enthusiasm. Indeed, interferon alpha-2a had been shown to be antiangiogenic in animal and in vitro models. It proved to be ineffective, however, in halting the progression of neovascular AMD in a double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial [28]. Another antivasogenesis drug tested in a phase 3 clinical trial is thalidomide [67]. Although the enrollment of patients is finished, the results are not yet known.
Ciardella
Antonio P
AP
LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Laboratory, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, 210 E. 64th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. aciardella@yahoo.com
Donsoff
Irene M
IM
Guyer
David R
DR
Adamis
Anthony
A
Yannuzzi
Lawrence A
LA
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013792:Thalidomide