Allergan initiates Phase III trial of abicipar pegol to treat wet age-related macular degeneration- Molecular Partners

Molecular Partners AG announced that its partner Allergan has initiated phase III clinical trials with abicipar pegol (abicipar) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The event triggered a clinical milestone payment to Molecular Partners of $ 15 million. 

Abicipar is an investigational drug for the treatment of retinal diseases such as wet AMD, a leading cause of blindness in the western world. Abicipar is expected to allow for less frequent dosing compared to currently approved treatments which require monthly or bi-monthly injections into the eye. Abicipar is further being investigated for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in an ongoing phase II clinical trial.