March 29, 2011

HOBE SOUND - Gene Frink, a World War II Army Air Forces veteran, has endured his fair share of battles, but when the 89-year old avid golfer discovered the vision in his left eye was deteriorating, he battled once more to ensure he wouldn't lose sight of his independence.

In 2008, Frink was diagnosed with 20/100 vision in his left eye - 20/200 is considered legally blind.

He had developed wet, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of elderly blindness that affects central vision. AMD causes blood vessels behind the retina to abnormally grow and leak under the macula, The retina, which converts images, and the macula, a portion sensitive to light, develop scar tissue as a result of the bleeding.

"I was very concerned," said Frink's wife Barbara, 71. "We love to dance, go out, and go to Maine and canoe every summer. Having him active was important." Frink found relief in a free clinical trial for a new drug called VEGF Trap-Eye, which treats wet macular degeneration by blocking the proteins that cause the blood vessels to grow, and improves vision. After three years, Frink's left eye can now see 20/40.

The drug, injected bimonthly into the eye, is expected to compete with Lucentis and other once-a-month eye injectable drugs in the market. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, along with Bayer HealthCare, developed the drug and will know in about 10 months if it's been approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Lucentis, FDA approved in 2006, is the standard of care to treat wet AMD and costs $2,000 per dose.

Dr. Adrian Lavina, ophthalmologist at Palm Beach Gardens' Retina Care Specialists where Frink participated in the trial, said to maintain vision, patients must receive 13 Lucentis injections a year, totaling $26,000, assuming only one eye needs treatment. VGEF Trap's cost is unknown pending FDA approval. Lavina, who treats three new cases of AMD a week, said there are 210,000 new wet AMD cases nationally. He foresees the number of cases increasing as the population lives longer.

"It's wonderful to have a drug where 95 percent of people can avoid severe vision loss," Lavina said. "VEGF Trap is a lot less burdensome for the patient, the family, as well as the medical system."

Like Lucentis, VEGF Trap comes with potential side effects, such as irritation and remote infection of the eye.

Frink, now in the last months of a second 18-month trial, has maintained his vision and had his dose reduced to four injections a year. He's focusing on getting back in the swing of things.

"I love playing golf and I haven't had any trouble seeing the ball, only trouble I have now is with my swing." Frink said.

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