Alcon Has Launched Jetrea to Treat Symptomatic Vitreomacular Adhesion

Belgium-based biopharmaceutical firm ThromboGenics has announced that its partner Alcon has launched Jetrea (ocriplasmin) for the treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) in Canada.

According to the company, Canada is the first market where Jetrea has been launched outside the US and Europe.

Marketing rights to commercialization of Jetrea, which has been approved by Health Canada in August 2013 following priority review, has been acquired by Alcon, a division of Novartis, in March 2012.

Jetrea contains the active substance ocriplasmin and is administered through a one-time, single intravitreal injection to treat adults with symptomatic VMA.

Alcon launched the drug in the UK, its first European market, in April 2013, followed by launches in Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

ThromboGenics is commercializing Jetrea in the US and launched the drug in the US in mid-January 2013 where it is approved for the treatment of patients with symptomatic (VMA).

ThromboGenics CEO Patrik De Haes said the launch of JETREA in Canada, the first market outside the US and Europe, for the treatment of symptomatic VMA.

"This is a condition where early pharmacological treatment is being seen as increasingly important in potentially preventing patients' loss of visual acuity which negatively impacts on their ability to carry out everyday tasks," De Haes said.

"We are looking forward to working with Alcon as it continues to roll out JETREA in other European and Rest of the World markets."