title: Investigational drugs for retinal vein occlusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disorder. This multifactorial disease frequently leads to visual impairment. Some risk factors for RVO can be managed prophylactically. Given the complex physiopathology of RVO, most of the latest therapeutic strategies focus on secondary clinical features (such as macular oedema and neovascularization).
  
  
  METHODS
  This author reviews ongoing, prospective, open-label Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of novels treatments for RVO (primarily intravitreal steroids and anti-VEGF agents). Specifically, they review the pharmacokinetics, safety profile, study design and adverse events associated with innovative drugs in clinical development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A number of innovative, early-phase clinical trials are based on combination therapy with an anti-VEGF agent and steroids. There is good evidence that early treatment of RVO has clinical benefits. Larger, randomized studies are now required for a better understanding of patient selection, treatment timing and dosing, and thus the optimized use of novel drugs and medical devices.
authors.affiliation: a Ophthalmology Department , University Hospital Necker-Enfants Malades , Paris , France.|b CNRS FR3636 , Paris V René Descartes University , Paris , France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bremond-Gignac
mesh_terms: D015195:Drug Design; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D018579:Patient Selection; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Phase I/II clinical trial; Retinal vein occlusion; anti-VEGF therapy; dexamethasone; intravitreal steroids; macular oedema; neovascularization