QLT announces encouraging Phase II data from core study of Punctal Plug Drug Deliv...( Sustained release treatment lead...),Health

Sustained release treatment leads to reduction in IOP of 20% from

baseline at 12 weeks

VANCOUVER, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - QLT Inc. (NASDAQ: QLTI; TSX: QLT) ("QLT" or the "Company") today announced data from its CORE study, a Phase II trial being conducted by QLT's wholly-owned subsidiary, QLT Plug Delivery, Inc. (QPD), to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its Latanoprost Punctal Plug Delivery System (L-PPDS) for the treatment of open angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OH). Sixty-one patients were enrolled in the study and 23 patients discontinued before the Week-12 visit due to either loss of efficacy/inadequate IOP control (19 patients) or loss of L-PPDS in both eyes (four patients). The mean change in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline at 12 weeks among patients who completed the study was -5.4 mmHg, -4.8 mmHg and -4.9 mmHg for the low, medium, and high concentrations of latanoprost respectively. This represents a clinically meaningful reduction of 20% from baseline at the 12-week time point in those patients. The L-PPDS were well tolerated during the course of treatment.

"We are pleased to report the results from our proof-of-concept Phase II CORE study, which showed a reduction in IOP that is within the acceptable range for physicians treating patients with glaucoma," said Bob Butchofsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of QLT. "This data confirms the viability of the approach we have pioneered, of employing punctal plugs as a non-invasive method of delivering already approved drugs to the eye. We plan to continue to investigate additional doses to see if efficacy may be further enhanced."

"The Latanoprost Punctal Plug Delivery System represents one of the most exciting exploratory programs addressing the unmet medical need of poor compliance and adherence patterns to treatment regimens seen in glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients," said Lou Cantor, MD, Director, Glaucoma Service, I
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