The Emmes Corporation today announced that Dr. Paul VanVeldhuisen, chief operating officer and principal investigator, co-authored a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study focused on the efficacy and safety of a commonly used, off-label drug called Avastin in treating macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion. The study also addressed how Avastin compared to another drug, Eylea, which has been approved by the FDA and is being used to treat the same disease.

The 2-1/2-year study with nearly 400 patients concluded that Avastin was as effective as Eylea in improving vision after six months of treatment. The cost of Avastin is $60 per dose compared to Eylea's $1,850 per dose.

Macular edema resulting from central retinal vein occlusion is the second most common retinal vascular disease and can cause vision loss. An estimated 16 million adults worldwide are affected by retinal vein occlusion.

The research was sponsored by the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. The Study of Comparative Treatments for Retinal Vein Occlusion 2 (SCORE2) was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 9, 2017.

According to Dr. VanVeldhuisen, this was the first large-scale study ever conducted to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of these two drugs in patients with central retinal vein occlusion.

"I'd like to acknowledge the leadership of Drs. Ingrid Scott, Michael Ip and Barbara Blodi, who led the team in this important research," he said. "It's been an honor to work closely with these outstanding researchers."

Dr. Anne Lindblad, president and chief executive officer of Emmes, noted, "We have a long history with the National Eye Institute and are proud of our contributions to ophthalmic research. We look forward to continuing to lead clinical trials that contribute to new, better and less expensive treatment options."

About Dr. Paul VanVeldhuisen 

Dr. VanVeldhuisen joined The Emmes Corporation in 1993 and was Emmes' principal investigator of the Study of Comparative Treatments for Retinal Vein Occlusion 2 (SCORE2) sponsored by the National Eye Institute. He has served as principal investigator for both government and privately funded research projects and has authored or co-authored 70 papers since he joined the company. Dr. Van Veldhuisen was named a vice president in 2006 and was promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer last year. He received the company's Public Health Impact Award in 2013 for his team's research on the safety of cesarean sections. He holds a Ph.D. in epidemiology from The George Washington University, an M.S. in biostatistics from the University of Washington, and a B.S. in mathematics from Calvin College.

About Emmes

We collaborate with our clients to produce valued, trusted scientific research. Our team members at Emmes are passionate about making a difference in the quality of human health, and we have supported more than a thousand studies across a diverse range of diseases since our formation in 1977. Our research is contributing to a healthier world. For more information, visit www.emmes.com.