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  • Review Article
  • Published:

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

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 5, pages 123–132 (2006)Cite this article

Key Points

  • Aptamers are RNA or DNA oligonucleotides that are selected through systematic evolution to bind to proteins with both affinity and specificity.

  • Aptamers offer the specificity and affinity advantages of antibodies in a relatively small, chemically synthesized molecule free from cell-culture-derived contaminants. They are also essentially non-immunogenic.

  • In contrast to other oligonucleotide agents, such as antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers can act on extracellular targets.

  • Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was selected as a target for aptamer development owing to its key role in pathological angiogenesis, for example, in ocular neovascular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular oedema.

  • After the selection of anti-VEGF aptamers that blocked the actions of VEGF in vitro, further optimization of the pharmacokinetic properties, for example by using 2′-F substitutions, resulted in the pegylated aptamer pegaptanib, which was chosen for clinical development.

  • Pegaptanib, administered by intravitreous injection, was tested in clinical trials in patients with neovascular AMD, and on the basis of its ability to reduce vision loss, was approved by the US FDA in December 2004.

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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Figure 1: A depiction of the SELEX process7.
Figure 2: Pegaptanib structure and target binding.
Figure 3: Mean visual acuity throughout 2 years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 3 Times Square, 12th Floor, New York, 10036, New York, USA

    Eugene W. M. Ng, David T. Shima, Perry Calias, Emmett T. Cunningham Jr., David R. Guyer & Anthony P. Adamis

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  1. Eugene W. M. Ng
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Correspondence to Anthony P. Adamis.

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Glossary

Age-related macular degeneration

A disease process characterized by deterioration of the macula that results in a loss of sharp central vision; non-exudative ('dry') and exudative ('wet') forms occur.

Diabetic macular oedema

Thickening of the retina occurring as a result of an abnormal accumulation of fluid within the retina; a common complication of diabetes mellitus.

Intravitreous injection

Injection of medication, air or gas into the vitreous cavity.

Vitreous

A thick, transparent, colourless, gelatinous fluid that fills the posterior segment of the eye; also known as the vitreous humour.

Retinal pigment epithelium

A layer of highly pigmented, phagocytic epithelial cells underlying the photoreceptors of the eye; it is a selective barrier controlling the flow of nutrients and other compounds to the retina.

Ocular neovascularization

A pathological condition involving the proliferation of new blood vessels in any ocular tissue.

Choroidal neovascularization

A pathological condition involving the proliferation of new blood vessels within the choroid (the vascular layer underlying the retina).

Macula

The pigmented central area of the retina adjacent to the optic nerve that contains the fovea, a region of highly concentrated photoreceptor cells important for visualizing fine detail.

Photocoagulation

A therapy in which a light wave energy (from a laser or other light source) is used directly to coagulate (cauterize) leaky or proliferating ocular vasculature.

Photodynamic therapy

A therapy in which laser energy is used to activate a photosensitive compound (administered intravenously), inducing local formation of free radicals and other compounds that cause coagulation of proliferating ocular vasculature.

Visual acuity

A quantitative measure of optical acuity based on an assessment of one's ability to see a clearly focused image at a defined distance.

Retinal detachment

Separation of sensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium; can result from subretinal fluid accumulation, retinal tear or retinal disease processes.

Endophthalmitis

Inflammation of the internal structure of the eye; in most cases the inflammation occurs as a result of infection.

Retinopathy

Any non-inflammatory disease of the retina; commonly describes a retinal degenerative condition resulting from impaired ocular circulation, hypoxia or systemic disease.

Sclera

The tough, fibrous, white outer coat of the eye; it is continuous with the cornea and the external sheath of the optic nerve.

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Ng, E., Shima, D., Calias, P. et al. Pegaptanib, a targeted anti-VEGF aptamer for ocular vascular disease. Nat Rev Drug Discov 5, 123–132 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd1955

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