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Retaane

Generic name: anecortave acetate
Treatment for: Macular Degeneration

Alcon Receives Approvable Letter from FDA for Retaane Suspension

FORT WORTH, Texas -- May 24, 2005 - Alcon, Inc. (NYSE:ACL) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an approvable letter for its New Drug Application (NDA) for Retaane 15 mg (anecortave acetate suspension). Retaane suspension is an investigational treatment for preserving the vision of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Alcon said it will meet with the FDA to discuss the approvable letter, the clinical studies submitted with the NDA and other ongoing clinical studies for Retaane suspension to determine the steps necessary to gain final approval for the wet AMD indication.

"We believe that Retaane suspension has a positive impact on the vision of patients with AMD. As part of our mission to preserve and restore vision, we are continuing with all of our development efforts for this drug, which we believe will ultimately lead to approval," said Stella Robertson, Ph.D. and vice president, ophthalmology research and development.

About Retaane Suspension
Retaane suspension is an investigational treatment for maintaining vision in patients with wet AMD. The drug is an angiostatic cortisene that inhibits the abnormal growth of blood vessels, a process scientifically known as angiogenesis. Angiostatic cortisenes are derived from the steroid class and engineered to remove chemical groups responsible for side effects, such as the development of cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure leading to glaucoma, while preserving potency against angiogenesis.

Retaane suspension is administered with a blunt-tipped, curved cannula to deliver the drug behind the eye without puncturing the eyeball. This method of delivery avoids the risk of intraocular infection and retinal detachment, the most common side effects associated with injecting therapeutic agents directly into the eye. In addition, Retaane suspension requires less frequent dosing (once every six months) compared to some other investigational drugs, which are injected into the eye as often as 9 to 12 times a year. No clinically relevant side effects related to the medication or application procedure were reported in the study.

Alcon has conducted extensive clinical research into Retaane suspension over the last five years. The company has reported clinical study results from two pivotal studies that formed the basis of its clinical package for its NDA. The first study demonstrated that after one year 79 percent of patients treated with Retaane suspension maintained their vision, compared to 53 percent of those who received a sham application. The second study demonstrated that after one year the visual outcomes in patients who received Retaane suspension were not statistically different from those of patients who received photodynamic therapy with Visudyne.

About Alcon
Alcon, Inc. is the world's leading eye care company. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for over 50 years, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye. Alcon has been conducting retinal research for more than 15 years and is the world's leading provider of surgical equipment used by vitreoretinal specialists who treat patients with AMD and other retinal diseases. Alcon has multiple programs to investigate, discover and develop novel compounds to treat AMD and other retinal diseases.

Posted: May 2005

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