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Garweg JG, Blum CA, Copt RP, Eandi CM, Hatz K, Prünte CF, Seelig E, Somfai GM. Brolucizumab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema: Ophthalmology and Diabetology Treatment Aspects. Ophthalmol Ther 2023; 12:639-655. [PMID: 36633780 PMCID: PMC10011261 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00647-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies have become the standard of care in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), resulting in a remarkable decrease in disease-related vision loss. However, the need for regular injections places a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system and improvements in vision may not be maintained long term. As a result of its drying potency and duration of action, brolucizumab, an intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy approved for the treatment of nAMD and DME, could decrease injection frequency for patients and provide an efficacious treatment; however, balancing its benefits and risks can be challenging. There have been reports of intraocular inflammation (IOI) in patients treated with brolucizumab, which, if left untreated, may result in severe vision loss. Recent evidence, however, indicates that early recognition of IOI and prompt and aggressive systemic corticosteroid treatment in response to posterior segment involvement can lead to favorable outcomes in these relatively rare but severe cases. A series of consensus meetings were conducted in 2022 between Swiss medical retina experts and diabetologists, discussing the current data for brolucizumab and exploring various challenges to its use, including the associated risk of IOI. The outcome is a collation of practical insights and guidance for ophthalmologists on the use of brolucizumab in patients with nAMD and DME, including patient selection and assessment, treatment regimen and monitoring, and the recognition and management of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus G Garweg
- Berner Augenklinik, Zieglerstrasse 29 (Y), 3012, Bern, Switzerland. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,Swiss Eye Institute, Luzernerstrasse 1, 6343, Rotkreuz, Switzerland.
| | - Claudine A Blum
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
| | | | - Chiara M Eandi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital - Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Surgical Science, Eye Clinic, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Katja Hatz
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Ophthalmology, Vista Augenklinik, Binningen, Switzerland
| | - Christian F Prünte
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology (IOB), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Seelig
- Departments of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.,University Clinic of Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
| | - Gábor M Somfai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stadtspital Zürich, 8063, Zurich, Switzerland.,Spross Research Institute, 8063, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
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Oishi A, Maekawa Y, Kitaoka T. Re: Singh et al: Efficacy outcomes of brolucizumab versus aflibercept in neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients with early residual fluid (Ophthalmol Retina. 2022;6:377-386). Ophthalmol Retina 2022; 6:1264. [PMID: 36462790 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2022.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Akio Oishi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - Yuki Maekawa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Kitaoka
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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Toto L, Ruggeri ML, D'Aloisio R, De Nicola C, Trivigno C, Cerino L, Di Marzio G, Di Nicola M, Porreca A, Mastropasqua R. Brolucizumab Intravitreal Injection in Macular Neovascularization Type 1: VA, SD-OCT, and OCTA Parameter Changes during a 16-Week Follow-Up. Ophthalmic Res 2022; 66:218-227. [PMID: 36162382 DOI: 10.1159/000526851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to assess early anatomical and functional changes after brolucizumab intravitreal injection (BIVI) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and macular neovascularization type 1 (MNV1). METHODS A total of 24 eyes of 24 patients suffering from naïve AMD with MNV1 candidates to BIVI as per label with q12/q8 dosing regimen after the loading dose were enrolled in this prospective study. Main outcome measures during a 16-week follow-up period included changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal subretinal fluid (SSRF) thickness (SSRFT), subfoveal sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fluid thickness (SSRPEFT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) maximum height (PED-MH). In addition, MNV1 flow area; percentages of eyes with intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid, and sub-RPE fluid at different time points; and percentages of eyes candidates to a q8 or q12 injection interval after disease activity assessment at week 16 were evaluated. RESULTS BCVA improved significantly from baseline (T0) to week 12 (T3) (p = 0.028). CMT showed a significant reduction from 456 ± 123 µm at T0 to 265 ± 85 µm at T3 (p < 0.001). SSRFT and SSRPEFT reduced significantly as well (p < 0.001 and p = 0.049, respectively). PED-MH and SFCT reduced significantly at the different time points (p = 0.020; p = 0.006, respectively). IRF presence changed significantly from 41.7% of eyes at T0 to 20.8% at T3 (p = 0.045). SSRF reduced significantly during follow-up, being present in 62.5% of eyes at T0 and 4.2% of eyes at T3 (p < 0.001). Subfoveal sub-RPE fluid decreased significantly during time, being present in 20.8% of eyes at T0 and 0% at T3 (p = 0.013). Most of the eyes (18 eyes, 75%) at week 16 after disease activity assessment were shifted in the q12 interval, and only a minority of eyes shifted in a q8 interval (6 eyes, 25%). CONCLUSION Brolucizumab is efficient in AMD patients with MNV1 by reducing all retinal fluids during the loading phase and shows reduction of macular thickness, choroidal thickness, and PED height. Most eyes at disease activity assessment (75%) fall into 12-week interval and the minority (25%) into the 8-week interval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Toto
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Maria Ludovica Ruggeri
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Rossella D'Aloisio
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Chiara De Nicola
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Chiara Trivigno
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Luca Cerino
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Guido Di Marzio
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Marta Di Nicola
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Laboratory of Biostatistics, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Annamaria Porreca
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Laboratory of Biostatistics, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Mastropasqua
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Science, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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Karasavvidou EM, Tranos P, Panos GD. Brolucizumab for the Treatment of Degenerative Macular Conditions: A Review of Clinical Studies. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:2659-2680. [PMID: 35971530 PMCID: PMC9375562 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s378450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion represent some of the commonest degenerative conditions that lead to severe vision impairment in the developed countries. The gold standard treatment of complications associated with these conditions is the intravitreal administration of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. Brolucizumab is a newly developed, humanised, single-chain fragment of a monoclonal antibody binding all VEGF-A isoforms, which was recently approved for the treatment of neovascular AMD. Intravitreal brolucizumab promises to reduce treatment burden for nAMD patients by achieving comparable therapeutic outcomes with fewer clinic visits. Promising also appears its use for the treatment of more challenging maculopathies like diabetic macular oedema (DMO). The aim of this review is to describe the special pharmacological properties of brolucizumab and display the outcomes of the most important clinical trials and real-world studies regarding its efficacy and safety for the management of degenerative macular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Georgios D Panos
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
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Hariprasad SM, Gale RP, Weng CY, Ebbers HC, Rezk MF, Tadayoni R. An Introduction to Biosimilars for the Treatment of Retinal Diseases: A Narrative Review. Ophthalmol Ther 2022; 11:959-982. [PMID: 35278204 PMCID: PMC9114261 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-022-00488-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological therapies have revolutionized the treatment of disease across a number of therapeutic areas including retinal diseases. However, on occasion, such treatments may be relatively more expensive compared to small molecule therapies. This can restrict patient access and treatment length leading to suboptimal clinical outcomes. Several biosimilar candidates of ranibizumab and aflibercept are currently in development and the first biosimilar of ranibizumab received EMA approval in August and FDA approval in September 2021. Biosimilars are biological medicines that are highly similar to an already-approved biological medicine (reference product). The physicochemical and clinical similarity of a biosimilar is determined by a rigorous analytical and clinical program, including extensive pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis with phase III equivalence studies where appropriate. These phase III studies are carried out in a patient population that is representative of all of the potential approved therapeutic indications of the originator product and the most sensitive for detecting potential differences between the biosimilar and the reference product. Biosimilars have been used successfully across a wide range of therapeutic areas for the past 15 years where they have achieved substantial cost savings that can be reinvested into healthcare systems without affecting the quality of patient care. The current review provides an introduction to biosimilars with the aim of preparing retinal specialists for discussing these products with their patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seenu M Hariprasad
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Richard P Gale
- Department of Ophthalmology, York Teaching Hospital, University of York, York, UK
| | - Christina Y Weng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Ramin Tadayoni
- Université de Paris, AP-HP, Lariboisière, Saint Louis and Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild Hospitals, Paris, France
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