Company Hopes Injectable Implant Cures Diabetic Macular Edema

Company Hopes Injectable Implant Cures Diabetic Macular Edema

Alimera Sciences hopes that its Iluvien ™ insert will be effective against diabetic macular edema.  Iluvien™ will release a steroid called fluocinalone acetonide (FA) after insertion into the eye.  The Iluvien™ system will deliver the steroid for up to 3 years.  It is anticipated that intraocular steroid release may control macular edema and improve vision.  The company has a study underway to determine just how effective this intraocular, sustained release drug system for the treatment of diabetic macular edema can be.

Alimera Sciences’ web site.

Is this new? Well, yes and no.  The technology is new.  A small implant will be injected into the eye.  The device will release a small amount of steroid into the vitreous for up to 36 months.  The injection site will be very small and will not require any stitches to close.  The entry point will be so small that it will self-seal.

“Old Drug – New Tricks” The drug, fluocinolone acetonide (FA), is not new.  It is an old, well studied, steroid.  Topical steroid drops, oral steroids and even intravenous steroids (IV) do not get into the eye very easily.  In order to get enough drug into the eye via these methods, the doses required become quite high, thereby increasing the likelihood of systemic toxicity.  Ideally, the direct insertion of the drug to its target tissue (the retina) will be more effective in treating macular swelling due to diabetic retinpathy (aka diabetic macular edema) than present treatments.  To state another way, by simply changing the route by which a drug is delivered (in this case directly into the eye versus, say, eye drops), the drug becomes more effective.

This is not really new news. If you have been reading carefully over the past year, steroids have been very useful for the treatment of macular swelling, not only in patients with diabetes, but also in cases of macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusions, etc.  Intraocular injections of steroids, such as triamcinalone acetonide (TA), have been widely used by retinal surgeons for the past 5 – 10 years, but they often need to be repeated.  A sustained release delivery system is needed (give an injection once, and it lasts for years).  So, using steroids to treat retinal swelling just makes sense.

Ozurdex® received FDA approval in June 2009. Allergan, Inc., just released its new steroid releasing implant.  Ozurdex® is an injectable sustained release system that was FDA approved in June of this year.  It is now available for patient use.  Ozurdex® also releases steroid inside the eye for up to 6 months.  The system then safely dissolves.  This system was FDA approved for the treatment of retinal swelling (aka macular edema) caused by retinal vein occlusions.  I predict that it will soon be used, off-label, for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.  Read my previous post regarding Ozurdex®.

This is all good news. To date, the Ozurdex® and Iluvien™ implants both validate the effectiveness of intraocular steroids for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.  Both are intravitreal, long term release systems.  They are small and can be delivered safely in an office.  It is exciting that new treatments, using well-studied medicines, are now available for treating such a prevalent complication of diabetic retinopathy.

Lastly, the advantages of sustained released systems can not be understated.  While it may sound a little aggressive to be injecting medicine directly into the eye, it is proving to be very effective in treating many eye diseases such as macular degeneration.

Intraocular injections have two major advantages, it delivers drug right where you want it and it takes lower doses than otherwise would be needed if given orally or by intravenous.  Therefore, little chance of side effects to the rest of the body!  The drug works at lower levels because it is injected right where it is needed.  It also may reduce the number of office visits (i.e. costs) and also increases “compliance,” that is, there is no question the patient is taking his/her “medicine.”

“Randy”

Randall V. Wong, M.D.
www.TotalRetina.com
Ophthalmologist, Retina Specialist

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8 Comments
  • Pingback:Shot in the Eye: Safe and…..Painless
    Posted at 08:48h, 15 April Reply

    […] tissue.  In addition, there are several sustained release drug delivery systems; Ozurdex® and Iluvien® are great examples.  These will be delivered as “injections” as […]

  • k.r.swamy
    Posted at 04:40h, 24 January Reply

    I was given two macugens and one avastin shots into the eye and then lazer treatment last yaer june at interval of one month. Still no cure of macular edeema. Now doctor says it is retinal vein occlusion. vision is ver blurred. pl suggest should I go for Illuvein or Oxurdex shots. will it cure my right eye. Left eye is okay. I need your kind guidance for submission to my doctor. Mt age is 72 and am diabetic with border reading of sugar level. Stlill working full time and doing normal work. Thanks and regards, Swamy.

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 00:05h, 25 January Reply

      Dear Swamy,

      Ozurdex is the only FDA approved device of the two. Iluvien is not available…yet.

      Ozurdex is FDA approved for vein occlusions, and it should help with macular edema due to diabetic retinopathy. There are no guarantees and I would caution you against a full “cure.”

      Stay well. Keep in touch.

      Randy

  • k.r.swamy
    Posted at 04:42h, 24 January Reply

    Pl let me know your guidance and comments

  • k.r.swamy
    Posted at 04:46h, 24 January Reply

    should I visit Fairfax, Virgenia for treatment with your Docyor Mr Randall V. Mong urgently. Pl let me know the package including Hospitalisation and the max period and fees.

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 00:07h, 25 January Reply

      Dear Swamy,

      I’d be happy to see you! My office locations are located on both web pages. I wouldn’t expect hospitalization.

      Hope to see you soon, but at the very least, keep in touch!

      Randy

  • Charlene Steele
    Posted at 13:35h, 29 August Reply

    I have enjoyed reading your blogs. I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for over 36 yrs. I have just now been diagnosed with DME at age 39. I am young and very nervous about the future. My doctor here in phoenix has suggested these Orudex treatments with insurance giving the okay. Thanks for the information.

    • Randall V. Wong, M.D.
      Posted at 08:45h, 03 September Reply

      Dear Charlene,

      Thank you for your kind comments.

      Keep in contact with your doc. You’ve <0.8% chance of severe vision loss in your life time.

      BTW: "Ozurdex"

      Randy

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