ThromboGenics NV, an integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic medicines, today announces that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued a positive recommendation for the use of Jetrea (ocriplasmin) for the treatment of adults with vitreomacular traction (VMT), including when associated with macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 microns.

Today’s positive recommendation represents a reversal of the original SMC decision made in August 2013 and results from the submission of further data highlighting the economic value of Jetrea when used to treat adults with VMT, a progressive sight-threatening condition that can lead to the loss of central vision, distorted vision, and blindness.

Until recently, the clinical approach has been ‘watch and wait’ or monitoring of VMT patients, meaning patients must undergo a period of observation before they become eligible for vitrectomy surgery. Due to potential complications, vitrectomy is mostly performed at later stages of the disease, often with macular hole, when patients have advanced symptoms and any lost vision may not be fully recovered. Therefore, monitoring of VMT patients can be risky, as it may lead to disease progression, and in some cases, irreversible vision loss or damage to the retina.

For more details, go to: http://www.thrombogenics.com/content/thrombogenics-jetrea-receives-positive-recommendation-scottish-medicines-consortium-smc