Sau đó, một giai đoạn II, ngẫu nhiên, đôi đeo mặt nạ, giả dược kiểm soát nghiên cứu về chất ức chế metalloprotease ma trận AG3340 ở những bệnh nhân với subfoveal CNV kết hợp với AMD được tiến hành. Kết quả của nghiên cứu này, tuy nhiên, đã không được phát hành | Age-Related Macular Degeneration Drug Delivery 255 follow-up evaluations on all of the patients enrolled in the study and additional Phase II and III trials are currently underway. AG3340 Prinomastat a selective inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases also inhibits retinal neovascularization in an animal model 63 . Subsequently a Phase II randomized double-masked placebo-controlled study of the matrix metalloprotease inhibitor AG3340 in patients with subfoveal CNV associated with AMD was conducted. The outcome of this study however was not released and the company decided not to proceed with a Phase III trial. Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents Vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF is an important molecule in angiogenesis development. Thus anti-VEGF therapy is an attractive approach to treat AMD 64-66 . In human studies high VEGF concentrations are present in the vitreous in angiogenic retinal disorders but not in inactive or non-neovascularization-associated disease states 65 66 . Further VEGF is preferably localized within the cytoplasm of retinal pigment epithelial cells in the highly vascularized regions of surgically excised CNV membranes in humans and in animal models 64 67 . Recent preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that blocking VEGF may have potential importance in the treatment of CNV secondary to AMD 68 69 . In addition anti-VEGF therapy may address the destructive effects caused by leakage secondary to CNV. VEGF also known as vascular permeability factor increases vascular leakage 50 000 times more potently than does histamine 70 . Recent laboratory work suggested that anti-VEGF therapy may inhibit diabetes-induced blood-retinal barrier breakdown in animals 71 . Pegaptanib Sodium Anti-VEGF Aptamer MacugenTM Pegaptanib sodium is a pegylated anti-VEGF aptamer see Chapter 5 . The drug product is preservative-free and intended for single use by intravitreous injection using a sterile 27-gauge needle Fifteen patients were entered .
