Port Delivery System | Lucentis Extended Release

The Port Delivery System (PDS) is a reservoir system for Ranibizumab (Lucentis) and is currently under FDA clinical trials to test the device for efficacy and safety.  The Port Delivery System continually releases Lucentis into the eye for a 24 week period and can be refilled.

Lucentis (ranibizumab) is an effective anti-VEGF medication that is currently delivered only intravitreal injection.  Repeated injections are usually required to treat diabetic retinopathy, wet macular degeneration and retinal vascular occlusions.

Repeated Injections

Most treatments require monthly injections intermixed with extra visits to the office for monitoring both treatment and the disease.  Treatment requires many trips to the office. 

This so-called “treatment burden” is the amount of work or effort a patient must endure for their own treatment.  Making dozens of trips a year to the same office can be overwhelming, especially for a patient who needs help with transportation.

The reservoir may indeed solve some of these issue by reducing the number of overall injections by increasing the amount of time between injections and office visits.

How the Port Delivery System Works

At first, the tiny reservoir must be surgically implanted.  The PDS then will release Ranibizumab (Lucentis) continuously until refill is needed, about 24 weeks later.  Different strengths and amounts of medication are part of the trial. 

To refill the reservoir, a simple procedure is performed in the office.  No surgery is needed. 

Port Delivery System

Roche Pharmaceuticals is testing the proprietary system.  It is presently in Phase 3 clinical trials and is not yet available to the general public for use.  The “Archway” study is comparing the effectiveness of the PDS vs. patients receiving monthly intravitreal injections of Lucentis. 

Sustained release methods and slow-release devices, such as PDS, are possible ways the treatment burden can be reduced yet maintain the same or superior clinical results. 

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