Lighting Hope for Retinal Disease Patients

Last week, the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, in collaboration with Roche Pharma Vietnam, organized a workshop to discuss advanced solutions for retinal disease patients in Vietnam.

New Solutions for nAMD and DME Patients in Vietnam

Age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide, becoming leading causes of vision loss.

In Vietnam, the pressure to improve ophthalmic treatment methods is increasing due to the rising rates of diabetes and an aging population. According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam currently has around 7 million diabetes patients, with about 7% at risk for developing DME. Vietnam is among the top ten countries with the fastest-growing rate of diabetes. Moreover, data from UNFPA in 2019 showed that 11.9% of Vietnam’s population is elderly—this percentage is expected to reach 25% by 2050, with a significant portion at risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Currently, the standard treatment for these two retinal diseases is intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. However, VEGF is not the only factor contributing to the progression of AMD and DME. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is also a factor that causes inflammation, vascular leakage, and enhances the impact of VEGF in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases.

Dr. Lê Anh Tuấn, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, shared: “Our hospital performs more than 3,000 anti-VEGF injections every month, so we truly understand the burden not only on patients but also on their families and society in maintaining regular monthly treatments. Therefore, we are always keen to explore new therapies that can reduce the frequency of injections while simultaneously improving the effectiveness of vision treatment for our patients.”

Dual Technology Brings New Hope

In May 2024, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health approved the world’s first dual antibody that simultaneously inhibits Ang-2 and VEGF-A.

Mr. Lennor Carrillo, CEO of Roche Pharma Vietnam, shared: “Roche is committed to collaborating with doctors, regulatory bodies, the government, and the healthcare industry to create solutions for unmet treatment needs and bring new hope to individuals with vision impairment. We are delighted that patients with retinal diseases in Vietnam can now access these effective solutions.”

Prof. Tôn Thị Kim Thanh, President of the Vietnam Ophthalmology Association, shared: “We have heard very scientific and thorough reports, as well as the deep concern reflected through the lively discussions. I hope this new therapy will improve treatment outcomes for patients, their families, and the healthcare industry.”

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thap-sang-hy-vong-cho-nguoi-benh-vong-mac-185241018155418716.htm