Development of verteporfin therapy: A collaboration between pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers and clinical investigators

Abstract

The potential for photodynamic therapy to provide new treatment options for patients with choroidal neovascularization has been of interest to ophthalmologists for many years. Verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis AG) is the first photodynamic drug to receive regulatory approval for use in ophthalmology. The development of verteporfin therapy was more complex than that of many other drugs because of the need to develop both the light-activated drug and the laser system used to activate it. This article provides an overview of the development of verteporfin therapy, focussing on the contributions of the pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers, and investigators who were involved in the program.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in age‐related macular degeneration: a systematic review of efficacy, safety, treatment modifications and pharmacoeconomic properties

“…Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin is approved in the USA for the treatment of predominantly classic subfoveal CNV related to AMD, pathological myopia and histoplasmosis syndrome (Huber & Levy 2001). In Europe, the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has approved PDT for AMD patients with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV and subfoveal CNV caused by high myopia (EMEA 2007).…”

Combination of photodynamic therapy and immunomodulation: Current status and future trends

“…Although verteporfin (benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A, BPD-MA) was synthesized in the mid-1980s with an intention of cancer treatment, it has been used primarily for ocular PDT. 38 PDT with verteporfin (also known as PDT-V) has been approved worldwide since 2000 as a firstline therapy for the treatment of patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to AMD, pathologic myopia or presumed ocular histoplasmosis. In the Western world, AMD is one of the leading causes of blindness due to the formation of the subfoveal CNV.…”