NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ophthotech Corporation (Nasdaq:OPHT) today announced that the pre-specified primary endpoint of mean change in visual acuity at 12 months was not achieved in its Phase 3 clinical trial investigating the superiority of Fovista^® (pegpleranib) anti-PDGF therapy in combination with Eylea^® (aflibercept) or Avastin^® (bevacizumab) anti-VEGF therapy compared to Eylea^® or Avastin^® monotherapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The addition of 1.5mg of Fovista^® to an Eylea^® or Avastin^® regimen did not result in benefit as measured by the mean change in visual acuity at the 12-month time point.

“We express our sincere appreciation to the patients and clinical investigators and their staffs for their dedication to completing this third Phase 3 clinical trial of Fovista^® in combination with anti-VEGF therapy,” said Glenn P. Sblendorio, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ophthotech. “This outcome does not affect our strategy as the Company moves forward with multiple ongoing or planned clinical programs in orphan retinal diseases coupled with multiple ongoing or planned clinical trials in back of the eye indications.”

This clinical trial (also known as OPH1004) was an international, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, controlled Phase 3 study. In the OPH1004 trial, subjects receiving Fovista^® in combination with Eylea^® or Avastin^® therapy gained a mean of 9.42 letters of vision on the ETDRS standardized chart at 12 months, compared to a mean gain of 9.04 ETDRS letters in patients receiving Eylea^® or Avastin^® monotherapy, a resulting difference of 0.38 ETDRS letters (p=0.74). The results for the pre-specified primary efficacy analysis were not statistically significant. In addition, the Company did not observe any clinically meaningful visual benefit in the pre-specified secondary endpoints when Fovista^® was added to Eylea^® or Avastin^® regimen. Based on these data, the Company has decided to stop treating patients who are in the second year of the OPH1004 study. The Phase 3 trial enrolled approximately 640 patients with wet AMD.

Based on a preliminary analysis of the safety data from the trial, Fovista^® combination therapy and Eylea^® or Avastin^® monotherapy were generally well tolerated after one year of treatment. The ocular adverse events more frequently reported in the Fovista^® combination therapy group compared to the Eylea^® or Avastin^® monotherapy group were mainly related to the injection procedure. The safety profile of Fovista^® combination therapy remains unchanged from prior trials.

In December 2016, Ophthotech announced that the pre-specified primary endpoint of mean change in visual acuity at 12 months was not achieved in its two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials (also known as OPH1002 and OPH1003) investigating the superiority of Fovista^® therapy in combination with Lucentis^® (ranibizumab) anti-VEGF therapy compared to Lucentis^® monotherapy for the treatment of wet AMD. The addition of Fovista^® to a monthly Lucentis^® regimen did not result in benefit as measured by the mean change in visual acuity at the 12-month time point.

About Ophthotech Corporation

Ophthotech is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel therapeutics for diseases of the eye. For more information, please visit www.ophthotech.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about Ophthotech’s future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statements about Ophthotech’s strategy, future operations and future expectations and plans and prospects for Ophthotech, and any other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend”, “goal,” “may”, “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions. In this press release, Ophthotech’s forward looking statements include statements about the implementation of its strategic plan, Ophthotech's projected use of cash and cash balances, the timing, progress and results of clinical trials and other development activities, and the potential utility or commercialization of any of Ophthotech’s product candidates. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Ophthotech’s clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those related to the initiation and conduct of clinical trials, availability of data from clinical trials, expectations for regulatory matters and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section contained in the quarterly and annual reports that Ophthotech files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements represent Ophthotech’s views only as of the date of this press release. Ophthotech anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. While Ophthotech may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Ophthotech specifically disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by law.

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