Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) have announced positive results from their Phase II study of lampalizumab (ant-factor D) for treatment of the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (geographic atrophy). Data accumulated over the first 18 months of the study demonstrated a 20.4% reduction rate in the area of geographic atrophy, in addition to showing no unmanageable serious adverse events. The lampalizumab molecule is an antigen-binding fragment (Fab) of a humanised, monoclonal antibody directed against complement factor D, a rate-limiting enzyme involved in the activation of the alternative complement pathway. Data from the clinical study was presented at both the 13th EURETINA Conference in Hamburg, Germany and the 31st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists in Toronto, Canada.