Intervention: Visudyne
Trial phase: Phase 4
SMILES: C=Cc1c(C)c2cc3nc(cc4[nH]c(cc5nc(cc1[nH]2)C(C)=C5CCC(=O)O)c(CCC(=O)OC)c4C)C1(C)C3=CC=C(C(=O)OC)C1C(=O)OC
Sex: All
Age groups: Adult | Older Adult
Healthy volunteers: No
Participants at risk: 21
Group description: Patients received one treatment at baseline with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in the study eye and thereafter based on re-treatment criteria at intervals of at least 90 days. Within 1-24 hours, patients also received Ranibizumab placebo (sham intravitreal injection) on Day 1 and at Month 1 and 2 and thereafter according to the re-treatment criteria at intervals of at least 30 days through Day 150. From month 3 onward, re-treatments were determined based on study-specific re-treatment criteria that included evaluation of polyp progression on ICGA, and assessment of fluorescein angiograms and visual acuity.
Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must give written informed consent before any assessment is performed.
Male or Female patients ≥18 yrs of age
Patients willing and able to comply with all study procedures

Inclusion criteria for study eye:

BCVA letter score between 73-24 (approximately 20/40 to 20/320 Snellen equivalent) using ETDRS visual acuity chart measured at 4 meters
PCV diagnosis confirmed by Central Reading Center
Greatest Linear Dimension (GLD) of the total lesion area < 5400 µm (~9 Macular Photocoagulation Study Disc Areas)

Exclusion Criteria:

Women of child-bearing potential who are not using one or more reliable contraception methods
Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women
History of hypersensitivity or allergy to fluorescein or indocyanine green (ICG), clinically significant drug allergy or known hypersensitivity to therapeutic or diagnostic protein products, or to any of the study drugs or their components
Patient with history of porphyria
Systemic medications known to be toxic to the lens, retina, or optic nerve
History of which might affect the interpretation of the results of the study, or renders the patient at high risk from treatment complications
Use of other investigational drugs within 30 days of randomization

Exclusion criteria for study eye:

Concomitant conditions/diseases:
Presence of angioid streaks, macular fibrosis, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, pathologic myopia (-8 Diopters or more)
Active ocular inflammation or infection
Uncontrolled glaucoma
Ocular disorders that may confound interpretation of study results

Prior Ocular treatment:

Prior Verteporfin PDT, external-beam radiation, laser photocoagulation, macular surgery, or transpupillary thermotherapy
Prior local treatment with Pegaptanib, Ranibizumab, Bevacizumab or other anti-angiogenic compound or any investigational treatment in both eyes or systemic use of bevacizumab within 90 days prior to randomization
History of intraocular surgery including pars plana vitrectomy and intraocular hemorrhage displacement is not allowed with the exception of uncomplicated cataract surgery that is allowed within 60 days prior to screening
Ocular conditions that required chronic concomitant therapy within 90 days prior to randomization with topical, ocular, or systemically administered corticosteroids or any herbal medication known to contain steroid-like components

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply