Pegaptanib, a targeted anti-VEGF aptamer for ocular vascular disease - Aptamers

Pegaptanib, a targeted anti-VEGF aptamer for ocular vascular disease
February, 2006
Eugene W. M. Ng 1, David T. Shima 1, Perry Calias , Emmett T. Cunningham, Jr., David R. Guyer , and Anthony P. Adamis
Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
Abstract:
Aptamers are oligonucleotide ligands that are selected for high-affinity binding to molecular targets. Pegaptanib sodium (Macugen; Eyetech Pharmaceuticals/Pfizer) is an RNA aptamer directed against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-165, the VEGF isoform primarily responsible for pathological ocular neovascularization and vascular permeability. After nearly a decade of preclinical development to optimize and characterize its biological effects, pegaptanib was shown in clinical trials to be effective in treating choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration. Pegaptanib therefore has the notable distinction of being the first aptamer therapeutic approved for use in humans, paving the way for future aptamer applications.
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