Alcon, Inc. announced today that it has discontinued development of anecortave acetate for the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with glaucoma. The company recently reviewed interim efficacy and safety data from more than 200 patients in a large, controlled Phase 2 trial. These data confirmed previous pilot clinical results that anecortave acetate applied through a single anterior juxtascleral injection measurably reduced IOP for an extended period of time. However, based on a detailed analysis of the data, and after gaining input from a panel of expert clinical advisers, the company determined that the amount of IOP reduction and the responder rate provided by even the highest dose were not sufficient to support this novel approach as a viable way to address the problem of patient compliance with eye drop therapy.

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