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Clinical study finds Iluvien may improve conditions of diabetic macular edema

12/23/2009

ATLANTA An investigational drug for treating one of the main causes of blindness in diabetes patients improved patients’ best corrected visual acuity after two years, according to results of a two-trial clinical study.

Alimera Sciences announced Wednesday results of a phase 3 study of Iluvien (fluocinolone acetonide) in 1,900 patients with the diabetic macular edema, which is the primary cause of vision loss associated with diabetic retinopathy. The drug is delivered as an insert in the back of the patient’s eye to take advantage of the eye’s natural fluid dynamics.

In one trial, 26.8% of patients receiving a low dose of the drug had improvements in best corrected visual acuity, as measured by an ability to read at least 15 more letters on a vision-testing chart than before, as did 26% of those receiving the high dose. In the second trial, the figures were 30.6% for low-dose patients and 31.2% for high-dose patients.

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