Allergan and Molecular Partners release positive Phase III data on AMD drug

Ireland-incorporated Allergan (NYSE: AGN) and Swiss firm Molecular Partners (SIX: MOLN) have released data from two positive clinical trials, SEQUOIA and CEDAR for abicipar, demonstrating that both the 8-week and 12-week treatment regimens met the pre-specified primary endpoint of non-inferiority to ranibizumab.

EQUOIA and CEDAR are identical global Phase III studies designed to assess the efficacy and safety of abicipar compared with ranibizumab in treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The primary endpoint measured the proportion of treated patients with stable vision at week 52.

The companies are developing abicipar as a potential competitor to Novartis and Roche's Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Bayer’s Eylea (aflibercept), which currently dominate this market sector.