The primary purpose of this study was to demonstrate a biological effect of AL-78898A, as measured by change (reduction) in central subfield (CSF) retinal thickness 4 weeks after a single intravitreal injection, as compared to LUCENTIS.

The study consisted of a Screening Visit (Visit 1), a Day 0 visit (Visit 2), 6 on-therapy visits at Day 1, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 (Visits 3-8), and an Exit Visit at Week 12 (Visit 9). Patients who met all inclusion and exclusion criteria at Visit 1 were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to receive either AL-78898A or LUCENTIS as a single 50-μL injection in the study eye. Additionally, patients received standard therapy for exudative AMD beginning at Week 2/Visit 5 if the patient was not improving per protocol-specified criteria. Beginning at Week 4/Visit 7, patients not improving received standard therapy for exudative AMD at the investigator's discretion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to give informed consent, make the required study visits and follow instructions;
• Newly diagnosed with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD);
• Presence of primary juxta- or subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD (study eye);
• Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in study eye as specified in protocol;
• No vision-threatening ocular condition other than AMD, in the opinion of the Investigator;
• Other protocol-specified inclusion criteria may apply.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History or current evidence of macular or retinal disease other than exudative AMD (study eye);
• Any evidence of fibrosis or scarring within the CNV (choroidal neovascularization)lesion (study eye);
• Any evidence of vitreous hemorrhage (study eye);
• History or evidence of surgery (study eye), as specified in protocol;
• Any active systemic infection or ocular/intraocular infection or inflammation in either eye;
• A history or current medical diagnosis of glaucoma or ocular hypertension (study eye), as specified in protocol;
• History or current evidence of a medical condition that may in the opinion of the Investigator preclude the safe administration of test article, adherence to the scheduled study visits, safe participation in the study or affect the results of the study
• History of severe or serious hypersensitivity to any component of the investigational product, reference product or clinically relevant sensitivity to fluorescein dye, as assessed by the Investigator;
• Females of childbearing potential may not participate in the study if pregnant, lactating, or not using adequate birth control methods for the duration of the study;
• Participation in any ocular or non-ocular investigational study within 30 days of screening;
• Has received any approved or investigational therapy for AMD in the study eye with the exception of vitamins;
• Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.

This reporting group includes all randomized subjects who received study medication.

Adverse events were collected for the duration of the study. This reporting group includes all randomized subjects who received study medication.

An adverse event was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a patient who was administered a study treatment regardless of whether or not the event had a causal relationship with the treatment. Adverse events were obtained as solicited comments from the study patients and as observations by the Investigator as outlined in the study protocol.