Euretina Presentation "Adoption of JETREA® in My Everyday Practice" Confirms Need for a New Paradigm in Treatment of Symptomatic VMA/ VMT, Including Those Cases Associated with MH

LEUVEN, Belgium, October 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Largest ever retrospective review of VMA/VMT patients confirms early treatment initiation may stop disease progression and lead to better visual function outcome

• Retrospective review of patients presenting with vitreomacular adhesion (VMA), vitreomacular traction (VMT), macular hole (MH) with/ without VMA, with or without visual symptoms (n=509)
• Review period: July 2009 - May 2013, with mean follow up of 2.03 years.
• VMA is a progressive disease: 16.4% of the eyes diagnosed with VMA progressed to VMT within one year.
• Exact time and/or impact of progression are patient dependent.
• Spontaneous resolution of VMA  occurred in 20% of patients with VMT
• Early treatment may be required to stop further disease progression and improve visual function outcome.

ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR:BR), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic medicines, announces that Prof. Dr. Peter Stalmans, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, delivered a presentation entitled "Adoption of JETREA^® in My Everyday Practice", at the recent EURETINA annual meeting of European Society of Retina Specialists in Hamburg.

In his presentation, Prof. Stalmans provided details of the largest retrospective, observational study to date, that looked at his "real world" experience with patients with vitreomacular adhesion (VMA), vitreomacular traction (VMT) and macular hole (MH).  

Prof. Stalmans is working at a large, tertiary care ophthalmology center in Leuven (Belgium). The Leuven center sees 50,000 ambulatory patients every year and conducts around 2500 intravitreal injections and 7000 surgical procedures per annum.  The retrospective study is leveraging data collected from electronic medical records gathered at the center between July 2009 and May 2013.  

During EURETINA, Prof Stalmans also provided insights into his own successful clinical experience with JETREA^® when treating patients with early VMT and MH.

Commenting on his presentation Prof. Dr. Peter Stalmans, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Leuven says, "This is the largest retrospective study conducted using high resolution OCT technology. The data collected clearly shows that VMA/VMT is a progressive condition and that spontaneous resolution of VMT is a low occurrence. Based on our findings I believe that early treatment of these patients may be important if we are to help them by resolving debilitating symptoms such as metamorphopsia, and further sight threatening complications such as macular hole. My own experience of treating patients experiencing metamorphopsia early with JETREA^®has been extremely good with the vast majority of patients experiencing resolution of their traction. I look forward to treating many more patients with this novel drug which I believe will play a key role in the treatment of a wide range of patients with VMT."

"This new VMA/VMT patient review is the largest ever available," says Dr. Patrik De Haes, CEO of ThromboGenics. "For the first time, we are able to look at 'real life' data provided from a tertiary center," he continues. "We are pleased to see how the results highlight the opportunity for JETREA^® as an early treatment option for those patients who would normally only be observed. These new data and 'real life' insights will help us to further educate the community about the risk of disease progression and the patient benefit of early treatment," he concludes.

A video interview with Prof. Stalmans at Euretina is available at this link: http://eyetube.net/series/daily-coverage-hamburg-2013/mesaj/

About ThromboGenics

ThromboGenics is an integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic and oncology medicines. The Company's lead product, JETREA^® (ocriplasmin), has been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of symptomatic VMA and was launched in January 2013.  

ThromboGenics signed a strategic partnership with Alcon (Novartis) for the commercialization of JETREA^® outside the United States. Under this agreement, ThromboGenics could receive up to a total of €375 million in up-front and milestone payments. It will receive significant royalties from Alcon's net sales of JETREA^®. ThromboGenics and Alcon intend to share the costs equally of developing JETREA^® for a number of new vitreoretinal indications.

In Europe, JETREA^® is approved for the treatment of vitreomacular traction (VMT), including when associated with macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 microns. Alcon has launched JETREA^® in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden.  

ThromboGenics is also further exploring anti-PIGF (Placental Growth Factor), also referred to as TB-403.

ThromboGenics is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has-offices in Iselin, NJ (US) and Dublin, Ireland. The Company is listed on the NYSE Euronext Brussels exchange under the symbol THR. More information is available at http://www.thrombogenics.com.

Important information about forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking". Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Company's Annual Report.

This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of ThromboGenics in any jurisdiction.  No securities of ThromboGenics may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws.

For further information please contact:

ThromboGenics

Wouter Piepers, Global Head of Corporate Communications
+32-16-75-13-10 / +32-478-33-56-32
[email protected]

Dr. Patrik De Haes, CEO
+32-16-75-13-10
[email protected]

Chris Buyse, CFO
+32-16-75-13-10
[email protected]

Citigate Dewe Rogerson
David Dible/ Sita Shah
Tel: +44(0)20-7638-9571  
[email protected]

The Trout Group (US investor relations)
Todd James/ Simon Harnest
Tel: +1-646-378-2926
[email protected]

SOURCE ThromboGenics