Better patient selection improves ocriplasmin outcomes

Topline results from a randomized, controlled study show ocriplasmin (Jetrea) can induce significantly higher rates of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) resolution than earlier studies suggest, according to ThromboGenics.

The randomized, sham-controlled, double-masked study, OASIS, followed patients treated for symptomatic VMA for 24 months. Data show 41.7% of patients treated with Jetrea achieved VMA resolution at day 28 post-injection compared with 6.2% of sham-treated patients. Previous phase 3 studies showed 26.5% of patients achieved VMA resolution at day 28 compared with 10.1% of controls.

ThromboGenics attributes the improved outcome to more advanced diagnostic technology, such as SD-OCT, which allowed physicians to select patients with focal VMA and without epiretinal membrane (ERM).

“To see 41.7% of the overall patient study group treated with Jetrea achieving VMA resolution at day 28 is an excellent outcome given that over 20% of patients had ERM at baseline based on the assessment of the Central Reading Center,” said Dr Patrik De Haes, CEO of ThromboGenics. “These positive data, alongside the confirmed safety profile, clearly demonstrate that with better diagnostic tools and improved patient selection, a single injection of Jetrea represents a very compelling treatment option for an important group of patients with symptomatic VMA.”

Ocriplasmin is a truncated form of human plasmin. In the United States, Jetrea is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic VMA. In Europe, Jetrea is indicated for the treatment of vitreomacular traction, including when associated with macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 microns. Jetrea is a selective proteolytic enzyme that cleaves fibronectin, laminin and collagen, three major components of the vitreoretinal interface that play an important role in vitreomacular adhesion.