Bhanvi Saija and Amruta Shahdekar

(Reuters] -Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG, (OTC) announced that on Friday, the U.S. Health regulator approved Roche Holding AG’s eye implant to treat patients with a chronic disorder causing blurred eyesight. It gives these patients an alternative option to monthly injections of existing treatments.

Roche’s Susvimo can be surgically implanted to treat wet AMD (wet age-related maculardegeneration). This is an abnormal condition in which blood vessels leak blood or fluid into the area of the retina near the macula.

The device will continuously provide a modified version of company’s ranibizumab drug, branded Lucentis. It is anti-VEGF therapy.

Current treatments for wet AMD include anti-vascular growth factor (anti VEGF) therapies that target a protein thought to be a major cause. Patients must receive injections of eye drops as frequently as possible to keep their vision clear.

Susvimo can only be taken by those who have received at least 2 anti-VEGF shots.

The device was used by more than 98% patients. They were able for six months without the need to refill the drug in the late-stage research last year.

Before the approval, Roche’s chief physician Levi Garraway stated that the device would be a “first-of-its kind” alternative to current care injections for wet AMD patients.

Garraway explained that there is an exchange mechanism on the device which simultaneously replenishes new batches of medicine and takes out any residual drugs.

Michael Leuchten, UBS Analyst, estimates that AMD’s U.S. Market is approximately $3.5 billion.

The European Medicines Agency, (EMA) is currently reviewing Susvimo for treatment of wet AMD.

In 2006, Lucentis was approved in the USA for wet AMD. There are also other anti-VEGF treatments, such as Regeneron (NASDAQ;) Pharmaceuticals’ Eylea or Novartis’ Beovu.