Aflibercept Treatment and Treatment Algorithms in Wet-Form (Neovascular) Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) commonly develops after the age of 50. AMD is a progressive degenerative disorder of the macula in which central vision becomes impaired and leading cause of blindness. Severe vision loss occurs in the late stages of the disease. Untreated wet-form (neovascular) AMD leads to a rapid loss of vision in the affected eye. Many studies have shown vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a key mediator in wet-form (neovascular) AMD. This review mentions the aflibercept treatment and treatment algorithms in wet-form (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration.

Author(s):  
Alan D. Penman ◽  
Kimberly W. Crowder ◽  
William M. Watkins

The VEGF Inhibition Study in Ocular Neovascularization (V.I.S.I.O.N.) study comprised two concurrent randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a second year of treatment with pegaptanib sodium (an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] agent) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In combined analyses, 88% of patients were re-randomized at week 54, and 89% were assessed at week 102. At week 54, those initially assigned to pegaptanib were re-randomized to continue or discontinue therapy for 48 more weeks (8 injections). Those initially assigned to sham were re-randomized to continue sham, discontinue sham, or receive 1 of 3 pegaptanib doses. The study showed that in patients with a diverse mix of neovascular AMD presentations, treatment with pegaptanib every 6 weeks for 2 years reduced the risk of vision loss regardless of lesion composition or size; this benefit was maintained during year 2.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 779-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Kauppinen

AbstractProlonged life expectancies contribute to the increasing prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that is already the leading cause of severe vision loss among the elderly in developed countries. In dry AMD, the disease culminates into vast retinal atrophy, whereas the wet form is characterized by retinal edema and sudden vision loss due to neovascularization originating from the choroid beneath the Bruch’s membrane. There is no treatment for dry AMD and despite intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that suppress the neovessel formation, also wet AMD needs new therapies to prevent the disease progression and to serve patients lacking of positive response to current medicines. Knowledge on disease mechanisms is a prerequisite for the drug development, which is hindered by the multifactorial nature of AMD. Numerous distinguished publications have revealed AMD mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level and in this multi-author review, we take a bit broader look at the topic with some novel aspects.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eui Chun Kang ◽  
Hyoung Jun Koh

Herein, we review the association between vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Meta-analyses have shown that eyes with neovascular AMD are twice as likely to have VMA as normal eyes. VMA in neovascular AMD may induce inflammation, macular traction, decrease in oxygenation, sequestering of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and other cytokines or may directly stimulate VEGF production. VMA may also interfere with the treatment effects of anti-VEGF therapy, which is the standard treatment for neovascular AMD, and releasing VMA can improve the treatment response to anti-VEGF treatment in neovascular AMD. We also reviewed currently available methods of relieving VMA.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan W Miller ◽  
Saghar Bagheri ◽  
Demetrios G Vavvas ◽  
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◽  
...  

While the development of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) as a therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was a great success, the pathologic processes underlying dry AMD that eventually leads to photoreceptor dysfunction, death, and vision loss remain elusive to date, with a lack of effective therapies and increasing prevalence of the disease. There is an overwhelming need to improve the classification system of AMD, to increase our understanding of cell death mechanisms involved in both neovascular and non-neovascular AMD, and to develop better biomarkers and clinical endpoints to eventually be able to identify better therapeutic targets—especially early in the disease process. There is no doubt that it is a matter of time before progress will be made and better therapies will be developed for non-neovascular AMD.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110183
Author(s):  
Laurent Kodjikian ◽  
Carl Joe Mehanna ◽  
Salomon-Yves Cohen ◽  
François Devin ◽  
Sam Razavi ◽  
...  

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents have transformed the management of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) over the past two decades. However, as more long-term real-world data become available, it is clear that treatment outcomes are inferior to those reported in large, controlled clinical trials. This is largely driven by undertreatment, that is, not maintaining a consistent injection frequency to achieve sustained VEGF suppression, whether due to patient non-compliance, an important injection burden, or non/incomplete anatomical response. Newer therapeutic advances under evaluation hold promise in achieving more, for less. We review the latest drugs currently in or having successfully finished phase III clinical trials, and determine their potential place in the management of patients with nAMD in Europe.


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