Combined ranibizumab-squalamine therapy shows promise for RVO

Ohr Pharmaceutical announced clinical trial results that show combining 0.2% squalamine lactate ophthalmic solution and ranibizumab can improve visual gain in patients with macular edema secondary to BRVO and CRVO.

The phase 2 study compared outcomes between a combination of topical squalamine and ranibizumab and ranibizumab alone. All 20 patients initially received combined therapy for 10 weeks, which resulted in a mean visual acuity gain of 20.3 letters and resolution of foveal edema in 95% of patients. Subjects were then randomized to continue combined treatment or to receive ranibizumab alone.

Patients who continued combined treatment continued to experience improved vision, achieving greater gains in visual acuity (27.8 vs. 23.3 letters) through the final 38-week visit.

Additionally, significantly more patients who continued therapy gained vision (80% vs. 50%) and none lost any vision. Patients who continued therapy also required fewer ranibizumab injections (2.0 vs. 3.3).

Ohr is also studying squalamine for wet AMD and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.