Epimacular brachytherapy used for wet AMD in Germany

Newark, CA-Epimacular brachytherapy has been used commercially in Germany for the first time, according to NeoVista Inc. The therapy is performed using the company’s system (Vidion ANV Therapy system) as an adjunct therapy to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

“Multiple studies have demonstrated that injections alone are not able to treat this disease effectively in a large portion of the population,” said Gisbert Richard, MD, professor and head of the ophthalmology department at the University Medical Center of Hamburg-Eppendorf. “The German health-care system presents a welcome opportunity for NeoVista to demonstrate the effectiveness of this emerging technology. I believe the use of epimacular brachytherapy in the treatment of wet AMD will continue to gain momentum in Germany and in many other countries as the rising cost of health care on a global basis encourages more and more patients to continue seeking out additional or alternate therapies.”

This approach to treating wet AMD delivers a focused dose of strontium 90 beta radiation directly to the back of the eye without damaging the adjacent healthy retinal vasculature. The systemic exposure to radiation is minimal and highly controlled to a local area, according to the company. The effective dose to the entire body from the device is less than that from a typical chest radiograph.