TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — European regulators have approved a new use for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s injectable eye treatment Eylea.
The Tarrytown, N.Y., company said Thursday that the European Commission cleared the drug for use in the European Union to treat visual impairment from macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion, a condition for which the drug already has received approval in the United States.
Macular edema causes swelling and blurred vision. Central retinal vein occlusion is caused by the obstruction of the central retinal vein that leads to a backup of blood and fluid in the retina, which causes vision loss.
Regeneron is working with Bayer HealthCare on Eylea’s development, and the companies share profits from sales of the drug outside the United States except in Japan, where Regeneron receives a sales royalty.
Regeneron has exclusive rights to Eylea in the United States.
Eylea already is approved in Europe, the U.S., and other countries to treat another eye condition, “wet” age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
Shares of Regeneron closed at $243.07 Wednesday, and that price has climbed about 42 percent so far this year.
