Ranibizumab approved for use in Europe

Basel, Switzerland-The European Union has approved ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) as a new treatment for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The decision came 11 months after submission and applies to all 27 member states as well as Iceland and Norway. The company has said it will launch the drug in European countries throughout 2007 and 2008.

The drug is approved for use in Switzerland, India, and the United States. It is the first therapy shown in clinical trials to improve vision and in patients with wet AMD.