Pegaptanib
Encyclopedia
Pegaptanib sodium injection (brand name Macugen) is an anti-angiogenic medicine for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It was discovered by Gilead Sciences
and licensed in 2000 to EyeTech Pharmaceuticals, now OSI Pharmaceuticals
, for late stage development and marketing in the United States. Outside the U.S.A. Macugen is marketed by Pfizer
. Approval was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2004.
Pegaptanib is a pegylated anti-VEGF
aptamer
, a single strand of nucleic acid
that binds with specificity to a particular target. Pegaptanib specifically binds to VEGF 165, a protein that plays a critical role in angiogenesis
(the formation of new blood vessels) and increased permeability (leakage from blood vessels), two of the primary pathological processes responsible for the vision loss associated with neovascular AMD.
Pegaptanib is administered in a 0.3 mg dose once every six weeks by intravitreal injection.
Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes therapeutics. For many years since the company was founded, the company concentrated primarily on antiviral drugs to treat patients infected with HIV, hepatitis B or influenza. In 2006, Gilead acquired two...
and licensed in 2000 to EyeTech Pharmaceuticals, now OSI Pharmaceuticals
OSI Pharmaceuticals
OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an American pharmaceutical company based in Long Island, New York with facilities in Colorado, New Jersey and the United Kingdom. OSI specializes in the discovery and development of molecular targeted therapies, and was listed in the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index...
, for late stage development and marketing in the United States. Outside the U.S.A. Macugen is marketed by Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
. Approval was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2004.
Pegaptanib is a pegylated anti-VEGF
Vascular endothelial growth factor
Vascular endothelial growth factor is a signal protein produced by cells that stimulates vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. It is part of the system that restores the oxygen supply to tissues when blood circulation is inadequate....
aptamer
Aptamer
Aptamers are oligonucleic acid or peptide molecules that bind to a specific target molecule. Aptamers are usually created by selecting them from a large random sequence pool, but natural aptamers also exist in riboswitches. Aptamers can be used for both basic research and clinical purposes as...
, a single strand of nucleic acid
Nucleic acid
Nucleic acids are biological molecules essential for life, and include DNA and RNA . Together with proteins, nucleic acids make up the most important macromolecules; each is found in abundance in all living things, where they function in encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic information...
that binds with specificity to a particular target. Pegaptanib specifically binds to VEGF 165, a protein that plays a critical role in angiogenesis
Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Though there has been some debate over terminology, vasculogenesis is the term used for spontaneous blood-vessel formation, and intussusception is the term for the formation of new blood...
(the formation of new blood vessels) and increased permeability (leakage from blood vessels), two of the primary pathological processes responsible for the vision loss associated with neovascular AMD.
Pegaptanib is administered in a 0.3 mg dose once every six weeks by intravitreal injection.