Aflibercept for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can have devastating effects on vision, especially in its neovascular form. In the last decade, the use of intravitreal pharmacotherapy targeted to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has significantly improved the visual outcomes in patients with neovascular AMD. Although we have become accustomed to these unprecedented improvement outcomes, maintaining good visual results with anti-VEGF therapy requires tremendous effort, time and cost, typically involving monthly clinic visits and intravitreal injections. The introduction of aflibercept, an anti-VEGF drug that targets all isoforms of VEGF as well as placenta growth factor, has shown promise throughout recent clinical trials as an equally effective treatment for neovascular AMD that requires less frequent dosing than either ranibizumab or bevacizumab. Based on clinical trial results, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aflibercept in November 2011 for use in neovascular AMD, giving patients the hope of alleviating some of the burden associated with treatment.