Australian agency Oks wet AMD treatment

Hunenberg, Switzerland-The Australian Therapeutics Goods Administration has approved Alcon Inc.'s anecortave acetate suspension 15 mg (RETAANE) for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization caused by exudative age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) where there is a classic component.

The company said it would continue its efforts to gain approval in the United States, Europe, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

It also said it has executed a clinical trial agreement with the National Eye Institute (NEI) to provide the drug for an NEI study of wet AMD. The multicenter, randomized, prospective trial will research the long-term safety and efficacy of the drug in patients with all forms of wet AMD who are undergoing intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA) therapy.

Meanwhile, Jacqualyn Fouse, Alcon's senior vice president, finance, and chief financial officer (CFO), was named Financial Executive of the Year by Robert Half International and the Institute of Management Accountants. Fouse is the second woman to receive the national award in its 9-year history, and the second recipient from the health-care industry. She has been Alcon's CFO since 2002.