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Rowe LW, Ciulla TA. Long-acting delivery and therapies for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024; 24:799-814. [PMID: 38953649 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2374869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) represents a leading cause of severe visual impairment in individuals over 50 years of age in developed nations. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections have become the standard of care for treating nAMD; however, monthly or bimonthly dosing represents significant time and cost burden due to the disease's chronic nature and limited medication half-life. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes innovative therapeutics and delivery methods for nAMD. Emerging methods for extended drug delivery include high molar concentration anti-VEGF drugs, intravitreal sustained-release polymers and devices, reservoirs for intravitreal delivery, suprachoroidal delivery of small molecular suspensions and gene therapy biofactories. In addition to VEGF-A, therapies targeting inhibition of VEGF-C and D, the angiopoetin-2 (Ang-2)/Tie-2 pathway, tyrosine kinases, and integrins are reviewed. EXPERT OPINION The evolving therapeutic landscape of nAMD is rapidly expanding our toolkit for effective and durable treatment. Recent FDA approvals of faricimab (Vabysmo) and high-dose aflibercept (Eylea HD) for nAMD with potential extension of injection intervals up to four months have been promising developments for patients and providers alike. Further research and innovation, including novel delivery techniques and pharmacologic targets, is necessary to validate the efficacy of developing therapeutics and characterize real-world outcomes, demonstrating promise in expanding treatment durability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas W Rowe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Thomas A Ciulla
- Department of Ophthalmology, Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Retina Service, Midwest Eye Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Muth DR, Fasler KF, Kvanta A, Rejdak M, Blaser F, Zweifel SA. Real-World Weekly Efficacy Analysis of Faricimab in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:478. [PMID: 38790345 PMCID: PMC11118397 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11050478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This study entailed a weekly analysis of real-world data (RWD) on the safety and efficacy of intravitreal (IVT) faricimab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods: A retrospective, single-centre clinical trial was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland, approved by the Cantonal Ethics Committee of Zurich, Switzerland. Patients with nAMD were included. Data from patient charts and imaging were analysed. The safety and efficacy of the first faricimab injection were evaluated weekly until 4 weeks after injection. Results: Sixty-three eyes with a complete 4-week follow-up were enrolled. Six eyes were treatment-naïve; fifty-seven eyes were switched to faricimab from another treatment. Neither group showed signs of retinal vasculitis during the 4 weeks after injection. Central subfield thickness (CST) and volume (CSV) showed a statistically significant decrease compared to the baseline in the switched group (CST: p = 0.00383; CSV: p = 0.00702) after 4 weeks. The corrected visual acuity returned to the baseline level in both groups. The macular neovascularization area decreased in both groups, but this was not statistically significant. A complete resolution of sub- and intraretinal fluid after 4 weeks was found in 40% (switched) and 75% (naïve) of the treated patients. Conclusions: The weekly follow-ups reflect the structure-function relationship beginning with a fast functional improvement within two weeks after injection followed by a return to near-baseline levels after week 3. The first faricimab injection in our cohort showed a high safety profile and a statistically significant reduction in macular oedema in switched nAMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Muth
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Katrin F. Fasler
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anders Kvanta
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
- St. Erik Eye Hospital (S:t Eriks Ögonsjukhus), 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Magdalena Rejdak
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Frank Blaser
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine A. Zweifel
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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Zarbin MA, MacCumber MW, Karcher H, Adiguzel E, Mayhook A, LaPrise A, Bilano VL, Igwe F, Ip MS, Wykoff CC. Real-World Safety Outcomes with Brolucizumab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Findings from the IRIS® Registry. Ophthalmol Ther 2024; 13:1357-1368. [PMID: 38520643 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-024-00920-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To assess real-world safety outcomes for adults with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with brolucizumab from the US-based IRIS® (Intelligent Research in Sight) Registry. METHODS In this retrospective study, 18,312 eyes (15,998 patients) treated with ≥ 1 intravitreal brolucizumab injections between 8 October 2019 (US launch date for brolucizumab) and 7 October 2021 were followed up for ≤ 2 years after first injection (index date). The study assessed the predefined incident ocular adverse events of intraocular inflammation (IOI), retinal vasculitis (RV), and retinal vascular occlusion (RO). RESULTS Overall, 614/18,312 eyes (3.4%) experienced any IOI, RV, and/or RO event. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) time to an event was 84 (42-167) days; 77.4% of events (475/614) occurred within 6 months after index date. Median (IQR) number of brolucizumab injections before an event was 2 (1-4). For eyes with an adverse event and visual acuity (VA) data (n = 406), median (IQR) change in Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters from pre-event VA was 0 (- 7 to + 5) at the 6-month follow-up; 50 eyes (12.3%) had a VA loss of 10 or more ETDRS letters. Risk of an event (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) was decreased in eyes from male patients (0.61 [0.53-0.71]), from older patients (0.83 [0.76-0.90]), from treatment-naive patients (0.51 [0.38-0.69]), and from patients who started brolucizumab in the second year after launch (0.68 [0.53-0.86] vs. first year). CONCLUSION In this large real-world brolucizumab safety study, 3.4% of eyes experienced an IOI, RV, and/or RO event. Among eyes that experienced an adverse event for which VA data were available, median ETDRS vision change was 0 letters (IQR - 7 to + 5).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A Zarbin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 90 Bergen Street, Room 6155, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
| | - Mathew W MacCumber
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Illinois Retina Associates, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Eser Adiguzel
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Michael S Ip
- Doheny Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Charles C Wykoff
- Retina Consultants of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
- Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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Xiong X, Zhang X, Li X, Huang T. Adverse events associated with brolucizumab: a disproportionality analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS). Expert Opin Drug Saf 2024:1-6. [PMID: 38404234 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2024.2322712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The safety information of brolucizumab primarily comes from clinical trials experience. This study aimed to explore the ocular and systemic adverse events (AEs) associated with brolucizumab among real-world patients through data mining the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. METHODS AE reports submitted to the FAERS database between October 2019 and March 2023 were extracted. The reporting odds ratio was used to evaluate AE signals associated with brolucizumab. RESULTS There were 4,380,839 AE reports extracted from the FAERS database, and 3,313 of which were with brolucizumab as primary suspected. A total of 150 ocular AE signals were identified. Ninety-nine were known ocular AEs listed in brolucizumab' label, primarily including vision-related AEs, intraocular infections, and retinal disorders. Fifty-one were unexpected ocular AE signals, including keratic precipitates, retinal perivascular sheathing, dry eye, glaucoma, etc. Meanwhile, several serious systemic AE signals, including arterial thromboembolic events and rhinorrhea, were also identified. CONCLUSIONS Several unexpected ocular and systemic AE signals associated with brolucizumab were identified through data mining of the FAERS database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Xiong
- Department of Pharmacy, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuwen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxia Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Taomin Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Ramamurthy SR, Behera UC, Narula R, Sadda SR, Narayanan R. Intravitreal Brolucizumab for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy without Choroidal Neovascular Membrane - a Pilot Study. Semin Ophthalmol 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38270124 DOI: 10.1080/08820538.2024.2308808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study intravitreal brolucizumab in the management of persistent macular fluid in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) without choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM). METHODS Retrospective case series which included eyes with chronic CSCR with persistent macular fluid for ≥ 3 months without CNVM. Intravitreal brolucizumab was administered in all eyes. Primary outcome measure was the resolution of intraretinal (IRF) and/or subretinal fluid (SRF) on OCT. RESULTS Five eyes (four patients) with chronic CSCR were included. All eyes showed complete resolution of SRF 1 month following injection. Minimal residual IRF was present in two eyes. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was stable in three eyes, and two eyes showed improvement. Central macular thickness (CMT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) showed reduction. CONCLUSION Intravitreal brolucizumab is effective in the rapid reduction of persistent macular fluid in chronic CSCR without CNVM. Long-term follow-up data are required to study recurrence and adverse effect profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srishti Raksheeth Ramamurthy
- Anant Bajaj Retina Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
- Standard Chartered-LVPEI Academy for Eye Care Education, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | - Umesh Chandra Behera
- Anant Bajaj Retina Institute, L V Prasad Eye Institute (Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Ritesh Narula
- Anant Bajaj Retina Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
- LILAC Image Reading Center, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | - SriniVas R Sadda
- Doheny Image Reading Center, Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Raja Narayanan
- Anant Bajaj Retina Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
- Indian Health Outcomes, Public Health and Economics Research Center (IHOPE), LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
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Coney JM, McCoy JE, Buxy Sinha S, Sonbolian N, Zhou L, Hull TP, Lewis SA, Miller DG, Novak MA, Pendergast SD, Pham H, Platt SM, Rao LJ, Schartman JP, Singerman LJ, Donkor R, Fink M, Zubricky R, Karcher H. One-Year and 18-Month Outcomes in nAMD Patient Eyes Switched to Brolucizumab Alone versus to Brolucizumab Alternating with Other Anti-VEGF Agents. Clin Ophthalmol 2023; 17:3601-3611. [PMID: 38026599 PMCID: PMC10680460 DOI: 10.2147/opth.s432957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Retrospective, real-world study to evaluate visual acuity (VA), anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection intervals, and central macular thickness (CMT) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) eyes switched to brolucizumab only or to brolucizumab alternating with another anti-VEGF. Methods The overall study population comprised eyes that were given ≥1 brolucizumab injection between 1 October 2019 and 30 November 2021. The brolucizumab-only (BRO) cohort consisted of prior anti-VEGF-treated eyes treated exclusively with ≥3 brolucizumab injections over ≥12 or ≥18 months; the alternating brolucizumab (ALT) cohort comprised prior anti-VEGF-treated eyes treated with ≥2 brolucizumab injections and ≥1 other anti-VEGF over ≥12 or ≥18 months. Results A total of 482 eyes received ≥1 brolucizumab injection during the study period. Mean VA changes from baseline were -1.1±15.1 letters (BRO cohort; n = 174) and 1.3±13.0 letters (ALT cohort; n = 47) at Month 12, and 0.0±13.5 letters (BRO cohort; n = 95) and -7.3±17.2 letters (ALT cohort; n = 29) at Month 18. Mean changes in injection intervals were +26.9±48.1 days (BRO cohort) and +11.1±17.3 days (ALT cohort) at Month 12 and +36.3±52.3 days (BRO cohort) and +14.0±19.9 days (ALT cohort) at Month 18. Mean changes in CMT were -35.2±108.1 μm (BRO cohort) and -31.5±91.2 μm (ALT cohort) at Month 12 and -38.9±75.0 μm (BRO cohort) and -9.0±59.9 μm (ALT cohort) at Month 18. Intraocular inflammation-related adverse events were recorded in 22/482 (4.6%) eyes. Conclusion Treatment with either brolucizumab alone or brolucizumab alternating with another anti-VEGF can preserve vision, reduce CMT, and extend anti-VEGF injection intervals in patients with nAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Thomas P Hull
- Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc, Beachwood, OH, USA
| | - Shawn A Lewis
- Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc, Beachwood, OH, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hang Pham
- Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc, Beachwood, OH, USA
| | - Sean M Platt
- Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc, Beachwood, OH, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Margaret Fink
- Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc, Beachwood, OH, USA
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Zhang Z, Peng S, Xu T, Liu J, Zhao L, Xu H, Zhang W, Zhu Y, Yang Z. Retinal Microenvironment-Protected Rhein-GFFYE Nanofibers Attenuate Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Regulating Microglial/Macrophage M1/M2 Polarization. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302909. [PMID: 37653617 PMCID: PMC10602545 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Retinal ischemia is involved in the occurrence and development of various eye diseases, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and central retinal artery occlusion. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have reported self-assembling peptide natural products for the suppression of ocular inflammation and oxidative stress. Herein, a self-assembling peptide GFFYE is designed and synthesized, which can transform the non-hydrophilicity of rhein into an amphiphilic sustained-release therapeutic agent, and rhein-based therapeutic nanofibers (abbreviated as Rh-GFFYE) are constructed for the treatment of retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) injury. Rh-GFFYE significantly ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model of retinal ischemia and a rat model of RIR injury. Rh-GFFYE also significantly enhances retinal electrophysiological recovery and exhibits good biocompatibility. Importantly, Rh-GFFYE also promotes the transition of M1-type macrophages to the M2 type, ultimately altering the pro-inflammatory microenvironment. Further investigation of the treatment mechanism indicates that Rh-GFFYE activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to reduce oxidative stress and inhibits the NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways to affect inflammation and macrophage polarization. In conclusion, the rhein-loaded nanoplatform alleviates RIR injury by modulating the retinal microenvironment. The findings are expected to promote the clinical application of hydrophobic natural products in RIR injury-associated eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuhong Zhang
- School of PharmacyKey Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug EvaluationMinistry of EducationCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of ShandongYantai UniversityYantai264005China
| | - Shengjun Peng
- School of PharmacyKey Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug EvaluationMinistry of EducationCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of ShandongYantai UniversityYantai264005China
| | - Tengyan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive MaterialsMinistry of EducationState Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineeringand National Institute of Functional MaterialsNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Jia Liu
- School of PharmacyKey Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug EvaluationMinistry of EducationCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of ShandongYantai UniversityYantai264005China
| | - Laien Zhao
- School of PharmacyKey Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug EvaluationMinistry of EducationCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of ShandongYantai UniversityYantai264005China
| | - Hui Xu
- School of PharmacyKey Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug EvaluationMinistry of EducationCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of ShandongYantai UniversityYantai264005China
| | - Wen Zhang
- School of PharmacyKey Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug EvaluationMinistry of EducationCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of ShandongYantai UniversityYantai264005China
| | - Yuanying Zhu
- School of PharmacyKey Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug EvaluationMinistry of EducationCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of ShandongYantai UniversityYantai264005China
| | - Zhimou Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive MaterialsMinistry of EducationState Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineeringand National Institute of Functional MaterialsNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
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MacCumber MW, Wykoff CC, Karcher H, Adiguzel E, Sinha SB, Vishwakarma S, LaPrise A, Igwe F, Freitas R, Ip MS, Zarbin MA. One-Year Brolucizumab Outcomes in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration from a Large United States Cohort in the IRIS® Registry. Ophthalmology 2023; 130:937-946. [PMID: 37086857 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate visual acuity (VA) and injection intervals in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) after 12 months of brolucizumab therapy in clinical practice. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS Adults in the United States-based IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) with nAMD who received brolucizumab exclusively for 12 months (2308 eyes of 2079 patients). METHODS Observational study of eyes with a first injection of brolucizumab (index), followed by 2 or more brolucizumab injections over the following 12 months without switching to another anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were change in best recorded VA and, for eyes receiving prior anti-VEGF therapy (treatment-experienced eyes), the difference between the brolucizumab injection interval at 12 months and the anti-VEGF injection interval before switching. The interval before switching was defined as the time between the prior anti-VEGF and index brolucizumab injections; brolucizumab interval was the time between the closest injection to day 365 and the preceding injection. Secondary outcomes included incident adverse events. RESULTS Overall VA at index was 61.6 ± 18.4 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters; 83.7% of treatment-naive eyes (184/220) and 86.1% of treatment-experienced eyes (1797/2088) showed stable (< 10 letters gained or lost) or improved (≥ 10 letters gained) VA at 12 months. Among treatment-experienced eyes receiving a prior anti-VEGF injection within 365 days before index, 29.5% (594/2015) showed an interval before switching of 8 weeks or more (mean, 7.6 ± 5.5 weeks), whereas 83.1% (1734/2015) showed a brolucizumab injection interval at 12 months of 8 weeks or more (mean, 10.3 ± 4.0 weeks). In all, 77.1% of treatment-experienced eyes (1554/2015) showed an interval extension of 1 week or more; of these, 55.4% (861/1554) showed an extension of 4 weeks or more. CONCLUSIONS In this community-based study, at 12 months, brolucizumab treatment prolonged the interval between anti-VEGF injections for most treatment-experienced eyes, particularly those with shorter intervals before switching, while maintaining or improving VA. With careful balancing of the benefits and risks, switching to brolucizumab treatment may offer the advantage of extending the treatment interval for patients with a high anti-VEGF therapy burden. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew W MacCumber
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and Illinois Retina Associates SC, Harvey, Illinois.
| | | | | | - Eser Adiguzel
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., East Hanover, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | | | - Rita Freitas
- Novartis Farma-Produtos Farmacêuticos S.A., Porto Salvo, Portugal
| | - Michael S Ip
- Doheny Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Marco A Zarbin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
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Timtim E, Weng CY, Finn AP. Safety of recent ophthalmic drugs and devices for wet macular degeneration. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2023; 34:363-368. [PMID: 37326230 DOI: 10.1097/icu.0000000000000974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW With frequent antivascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) injections well established as the standard of care in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), focus has now shifted towards decreasing treatment burden without compromising safety and efficacy. This review summarizes clinical stage and recently approved drugs and devices for nAMD, with an emphasis paid to safety concerns and their implications for product adoption. RECENT FINDINGS Three strategies have emerged to decrease the treatment burden associated with the current standard of care: more durable intravitreal agents, sustained-release modalities and gene therapy. The appearance of biosimilars will further impact drug availability and cost. As patterns of adverse events emerge from clinical trial or postmarketing surveillance data, manufacturers have proactively responded by appointing independent review committees or issuing voluntary recalls. However, the example of one biosimilar approved outside of the USA and European Union demonstrates how early safety concerns, even when addressed by substantive data, can generate lingering uncertainty. SUMMARY As the number of promising new treatments in nAMD continues to grow, so too does the amount of data that providers must sift through. The perception of safety surrounding first movers in each new therapeutic area is sure to affect adoption of that modality more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Timtim
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Christina Y Weng
- Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Avni P Finn
- Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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Garweg JG, Keiper J, Pfister IB, Schild C. Functional Outcomes of Brolucizumab-Induced Intraocular Inflammation Involving the Posterior Segment-A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4671. [PMID: 37510788 PMCID: PMC10380786 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Early poor outcomes of intraocular inflammation (IOI) after intravitreal brolucizumab (IVB) have negatively affected the use of brolucizumab in clinical routine. We wished to identify factors related to the treatment details of IOI involving the posterior segment resulting from IVB for neovascular AMD (nAMD), if these were reported in detail. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials, and CENTRAL using the following search terms: <Brolucizumab> AND <AMD> AND <intraocular inflammation>. The risk of bias was rated using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool. We included 31 reports (41 patients and 46 eyes). Patients were 75.9 ± 8.5 years, and 58.5% were female. IOI occurred 41.7 ± 37.5 (median 37.0) days after treatment initiation with 2.0 ± 1.3 (1-6) IVB injections. A mean change in visual acuity of -14.6 ± 21.0 (median -6.5) letters was reported. The mean time from first IOI signs to the initiation of any anti-inflammatory treatment was 3.3 ± 6.2 days, with 63% of the patients receiving systemic corticosteroids as standard treatment. Finally, a period effect was observed, with a change in visual acuity of -25.3 ± 27.1 and -2.6 ± 7.3 letters in the chronologically first and last third, respectively, of treated eyes (effect size: r = 0.71; p = 0.006). Functional outcomes markedly improved with increasing experience in managing IOI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus G Garweg
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital (Bern University Hospital), University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Judith Keiper
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital (Bern University Hospital), University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Isabel B Pfister
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christin Schild
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
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Sydnor S, Chatterjee S, Cooney P, Kaur S, Macmillan T, Stewart D, Munro I, Bandeiras C, Paine A, Felizzi F. Efficacy and Safety of Brolucizumab, Aflibercept, and Ranibizumab for the Treatment of Patients with Visual Impairment Due to Diabetic Macular Oedema: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Diabetes Ther 2023:10.1007/s13300-023-01410-8. [PMID: 37198521 DOI: 10.1007/s13300-023-01410-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Key clinical guidelines recommend anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy as first-line treatment for visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DMO). A systematic literature review (SLR) and network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted comparing the relative efficacy of the anti-VEGF brolucizumab with a focused network of the most relevant comparator dosing regimens approved in countries other than the USA (aflibercept, ranibizumab). The safety and tolerability of brolucizumab were also assessed. METHODS A broad SLR was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials to ensure all relevant potential comparators were captured. Identified studies were refined to those appropriate for inclusion in the NMA. A Bayesian NMA was conducted comparing brolucizumab 6 mg (every 12 [Q12W]/every 8 weeks [Q8W]) with relevant aflibercept 2 mg and ranibizumab 0.5 mg regimens. RESULTS Fourteen studies were included in the NMA. At 1-year follow-up, the various aflibercept 2 mg and ranibizumab 0.5 mg regimens were mostly comparable with brolucizumab 6 mg Q12W/Q8W across key visual and anatomical outcomes, except brolucizumab 6 mg was favoured over ranibizumab 0.5 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) for the change from baseline (CFB) in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and BCVA loss/gain of pre-specified numbers of letters, and over ranibizumab 0.5 mg pro re nata for CFB in diabetic retinopathy severity scale, and retinal thickness. At year 2, where data were available, brolucizumab 6 mg showed similar results across efficacy outcomes versus all other anti-VEGFs. In most cases, discontinuation rates (all cause, and due to adverse events [AE]) and serious and overall rates of AEs excluding ocular inflammatory events were similar (in unpooled and pooled-treatment analyses) versus comparators. CONCLUSION Brolucizumab 6 mg Q12W/Q8W was comparable or superior to aflibercept 2 mg and ranibizumab 0.5 mg regimens for various visual and anatomical efficacy outcomes and discontinuation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby Sydnor
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd., London, England, UK
| | | | | | - Simarjeet Kaur
- CONEXTS, Novartis Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, India
| | | | | | | | | | - Abby Paine
- Source Health Economics, Oxford, England, UK
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Kikushima W, Sakurada Y, Fukuda Y, Matsubara M, Kotoda Y, Sugiyama A, Kashiwagi K. A Treat-and-Extend Regimen of Intravitreal Brolucizumab for Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration Refractory to Aflibercept: A 12-Month Result. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16040562. [PMID: 37111318 PMCID: PMC10141467 DOI: 10.3390/ph16040562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to investigate whether a treat-and-extend regimen of intravitreal brolucizumab (6.0 mg/0.05 mL) is effective for eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) refractory to aflibercept for 12 months. Sixty eyes from 56 patients receiving brolucizumab for exudative AMD refractory to aflibercept were included. Patients received a mean of 30.1 aflibercept administrations for a mean 67.9-month follow-up. All patients exhibited exudation on optical coherence tomography (OCT) despite regular 4-8 weeks of aflibercept administration. Visit 1 was scheduled at the same interval from the last aflibercept injection to the baseline. The treatment interval was extended or shortened by 1-2 weeks depending on the presence or absence of exudation on OCT. After switching to brolucizumab, the follow-up interval significantly extended at 12 months (before switching: 7.6 ± 3.8 weeks vs. at 12 months: 12.1 ± 6.2 weeks, p = 1.3 × 10-7). Forty-three percent of the eyes achieved a dry macula at 12 months after switching. However, the best-corrected visual acuity did not improve at any visit. Morphologically, the central retinal thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness significantly decreased from baseline at 12 months (p = 3.6 × 10-3 and 1.0 × 10-3, respectively). Switching to brolucizumab can be considered to extend the treatment interval in eyes with exudative AMD refractory to aflibercept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Kikushima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Yoichi Sakurada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Fukuda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Mio Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Yumi Kotoda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sugiyama
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Kenji Kashiwagi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
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Kusuhara S, Kishimoto-Kishi M, Matsumiya W, Miki A, Imai H, Nakamura M. Short-Term Outcomes of Intravitreal Faricimab Injection for Diabetic Macular Edema. Medicina (B Aires) 2023; 59:medicina59040665. [PMID: 37109622 PMCID: PMC10142035 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59040665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Faricimab is a novel bispecific antibody with Fab regions inhibiting both vascular endothelial growth factor-A and angiopoietin-2. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain short-term outcomes of intravitreal injection of faricimab (IVF) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in daily clinical practice. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was carried out on consecutive patients with DME who had been treated with IVF and were followed up for at least 1 month. Outcome measures included changes in logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), number of IVF administrations, and safety. Clinical outcomes were also compared between the treatment-naïve and switch groups. Results: A total of 21 consecutive DME eyes from 19 patients were identified. The mean number of IVFs was 1.6 ± 0.8 during the mean follow-up time of 5.5 months. The overall mean logMAR BCVA following IVF was 0.236, 0.204, 0.190, and 0.224 at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, without a significant change from baseline to 1 month (p = 0.176) or for 6 months (p = 0.923). The overall mean CRT (μm) following IVF was 400.6, 346.6, 342.1, and 327.5 at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. CRT significantly decreased from baseline to 1 month (p = 0.001) but did not reach a significant level over 6 months following IVF (p = 0.070). No significant difference in BCVA or CRT was observed between the treatment-naïve and switch groups. No serious safety concerns were noted. Conclusions: IVF for the treatment of DME may preserve visual acuity and improve macular thickness without serious safety concerns in the short term in a real-world clinical setting.
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Brolucizumab in Pretreated Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Case Series, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030814. [PMID: 36983970 PMCID: PMC10051743 DOI: 10.3390/life13030814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Recalcitrant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (rnAMD) despite intensive intravitreal anti-neovascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment, can be handled by switching to another anti-VEGF agent. This first systematic review and meta-analysis presents long-term data after switching from another anti-VEGF agent to brolucizumab. Methods: Retrospective case series over two years of patients switched to brolucizumab, and a systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed studies presenting patients switched to brolucizumab. Weighted mean differences based on the random-effects models were calculated for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield thickness (CST). Results: The systematic review draws on 1200 eyes switched to brolucizumab. The meta-analysis showed a clinically irrelevant decrease in BCVA after one and two months, together with significant decreases in CST for up to one year after the switch but lacking power over 2 years. Of twelve eyes (twelve patients) in our case series, five continued treatment for two years without experiencing significant changes. Conclusions: After switch to brolucizumab, a significant morphological improvement with CST reduction was shown in eyes with rnAMD. The small worsening of BCVA may be owing to the chronically active nature of rnAMD. Brolucizumab thus remains a treatment option in rnAMD despite its potential side effects.
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MacCumber MW, Wykoff CC, Karcher H, Adiguzel E, Buxy Sinha S, Vishwakarma S, LaPrise A, Igwe F, Freitas R, Ip MS, Zarbin MA. Factors Linked to Injection Interval Extension in Eyes with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration Switched to Brolucizumab. Ophthalmology 2023:S0161-6420(23)00194-X. [PMID: 36990322 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate factors associated with anti-VEGF injection interval extension in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) switched to brolucizumab. DESIGN Retrospective observational cohort study. PARTICIPANTS Adults in the US-based Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry with nAMD who switched from another anti-VEGF agent (treatment-experienced) to brolucizumab-only treatment for at least 12 months in the time period of 10/08/2019 through 11/26/2021. METHODS Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine associations of demographic and clinical characteristics with the likelihood of interval extension following switch to brolucizumab therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Eyes were classified as either "extenders" or "non-extenders" at 12 months. "Extenders" were eyes that achieved (i) an extension of ≥ 2 weeks in the brolucizumab injection interval at 12 months versus the pre-switch interval (time between the last known prior anti-VEGF injection and first ["index"] brolucizumab injection) and (ii) stable (< 10 letters gained or lost) or improved (≥ 10 letters gained) visual acuity (VA) at 12 months compared with VA at index. RESULTS Of the 2015 eyes among 1890 patients that switched to brolucizumab, 1186 eyes (58.9%) were "extenders". In univariate analyses, demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between extenders and non-extenders, except that extenders had a shorter pre-switch interval compared with non-extenders (mean 5.9 ± 2.1 versus 10.1 ± 7.6 weeks, respectively). The multivariable logistic regression model showed that a shorter pre-switch interval was significantly and positively associated with interval extension with brolucizumab therapy (adjusted odds ratio 5.6 for pre-switch interval of <8 weeks compared with ≥8 weeks; 95% confidence interval 4.5-6.9; P <0.001), and that eyes with an index VA of 40-65 letters were significantly less likely to be extenders than eyes in the higher (better) index VA categories. CONCLUSIONS Length of the pre-switch treatment interval was the characteristic most strongly associated with successful interval extension with brolucizumab. Treatment-experienced patients who required more frequent injections (i.e., shorter pre-switch intervals) showed the greatest extensions when switching to brolucizumab. With careful consideration of the benefits/risks, brolucizumab may be a valuable treatment option for patients whose treatment burden is higher due to the need for frequent injections.
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