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Ocriplasmin: A Review of Its Use in Patients with Symptomatic Vitreomacular Adhesion

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Abstract

Ocriplasmin (JETREA®) is a recombinant human serine protease plasmin with proteolytic activity against the protein components (e.g. laminin, fibronectin and collagen) of the vitreous and vitreoretinal interface, thereby facilitating vitreous liquefaction and separation of vitreous from the retina. Intravitreal ocriplasmin is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (USA) and vitreomacular traction including when associated with a macular hole of diameter ≤400 μm in adult patients (EU). The efficacy of ocriplasmin at the recommended dose of a single 125 μg intravitreal injection was demonstrated in two well-designed pivotal phase III trials of virtually identical design (TG-MV-006 and TG-MV-007) in patients with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion. A significantly greater proportion of patients treated with ocriplasmin than those treated with placebo achieved nonsurgical resolution of vitreomacular adhesion at day 28 (primary endpoint), with the significant between-group difference sustained until study end (month 6). At day 28, the proportion of eyes achieving total posterior vitreous detachment or nonsurgical closure of macular holes was also significantly greater with ocriplasmin than with placebo. Ocriplasmin was generally well tolerated in these trials, with most ocular adverse events being mild in severity and transient in nature. Current evidence suggests that ocriplasmin is a useful treatment option for patients with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion.

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Disclosure

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding. During the peer review process, the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made by the authors on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

Conflicts of interest

Dr Jerry Sebag is a consultant to ThromboGenics and ALCON, and owns shares in ThromboGenics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand

    Yahiya Y. Syed & Sohita Dhillon

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  1. Yahiya Y. Syed
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  2. Sohita Dhillon
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Correspondence to Yahiya Y. Syed.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: H.J. Cho, Department of Ophthalmology, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; K. Spiteri Cornish, Ophthalmology Department, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, Scotland; A.O. Saatci, Department of Ophthalmology, Buca Seyfi Demirsoy State Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; J. Sebag, Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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Syed, Y.Y., Dhillon, S. Ocriplasmin: A Review of Its Use in Patients with Symptomatic Vitreomacular Adhesion. Drugs 73, 1617–1625 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-013-0124-1

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