EYET Eyetech Pharmaceuticals (MM)

Eyetech to Host Vision Day on Wednesday, June 22 Company to Comment On Macugen Launch and Research and Development Programs Aimed at Expanding the Macugen Franchise and Pipeline NEW YORK, June 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:EYET) today announced that it will hold Eyetech Vision Day for investors, analysts and media on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 from 12:00 noon to 2:30 p.m., Eastern time, at The Westin New York Hotel at Times Square, 270 West 42nd Street, New York City, in the Broadway Ballroom on the third floor. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050407/EYETLOGO ) Eyetech executives and scientists will comment on the recent launch of Macugen(R) (pegaptanib sodium injection) as the only FDA-approved treatment for all subtypes of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The program will summarize progress of internal and collaborative research and development efforts aimed at expanding the Macugen franchise and Eyetech's pipeline, including completed, ongoing and proposed clinical studies of Macugen to treat diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion, as well as a collaboration with Archemix Corp. to explore the combination of Macugen with a compound that blocks platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). Speakers scheduled to present include: David R. Guyer, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Eyetech; Anthony P. Adamis, M.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer of Eyetech; David T. Shima, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research and Preclinical Development of Eyetech, and other senior Eyetech executives and scientists. Additional speakers include Errol De Souza, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Archemix, and Donald J. D'Amico, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School and a member of Eyetech's Scientific Advisory Board. Interested parties may access a live audio webcast of the presentation by logging on to the Investor Relations section of our corporate website, http://www.eyetech.com/. Presentations will begin at 12:30 p.m. Live audio of the webcast will also be available to investors, members of the news media and the general public by dialing 888-275-0218 (in the United States) or 706-679- 7756 (internationally). An archived version of the webcast will be available at the same location through June 28, 2005 or by calling 800-642-1687 (in the United States) or 706-645-9291 (internationally), passcode: 7029432. About Macugen Macugen is indicated in the United States for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (neovascular AMD) and is administered in a 0.3 mg dose once every six weeks by intravitreal injection. Macugen is a pegylated anti-VEGF aptamer, which binds to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is a protein that plays a critical role in angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and increased permeability (leakage from blood vessels), two pathological processes that contribute to the vision loss associated with neovascular AMD. Important Safety Information Macugen is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections. Intravitreal injections including those with Macugen have been associated with endophthalmitis. Proper aseptic injection technique -- which includes use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent) -- should always be utilized when administering Macugen. In addition, patients should be monitored during the week following the injection to permit early treatment, should an infection occur. Increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) have been seen within 30 minutes of injection with Macugen. Therefore, IOP as well as the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately. Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure occurring in