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Genentech submits Biologics Licence Application for Lucentis eye drug

ZURICH (AFX) - Genentech Inc., the US biotech group in which Switzerland's
Roche Holding AG holds a majority stake, said it has submitted a Biologics
License Application (BLA) to the US Food and Drug Administration for the use of
eye drug Lucentis in the treatment of neovascular wet age-related macular
degeneration.
As part of the submission, the group has requested a Priority Review from
the FDA, which, if okayed, would give the latter six months from the receipt of
the submission to take action on the application, it said.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs in both dry and wet form. It
is the number one cause of blindness for people over the age of 60.
The wet form is caused by growth of abnormal blood vessels which leak fluid
and blood thereby causing scar tissue that destroys the retina which results in
a deterioration of sight.
Lucentis, which is developed jointly by Genentech and the Novartis
Ophthalmics unit, is designed to block new blood vessel growth and leaks.
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