Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Eyes with Intraocular Inflammation after Brolucizumab: Post Hoc Analysis of HAWK and HARRIER

Abstract

Purpose: This analysis of the pivotal phase 3 HAWK and HARRIER trials aimed to provide insights on the timing of presentation, management, and outcomes of intraocular inflammation (IOI)-related adverse events (AEs), as reported by investigators in these trials.

Design: Post hoc analysis of investigator-reported IOI-related AEs in HAWK and HARRIER.

Participants: Of 1088 brolucizumab-treated eyes (3 or 6 mg), 49 eyes demonstrated at least 1 IOI-related AE and were included in this analysis.

Methods: Reports of IOI-related AEs were analyzed and descriptive statistics were provided for outcome measures.

Main outcome measures: Incidence and description of eyes with IOI-related AEs, timing of presentation, management, clinical outcomes, and brolucizumab treatment after the first IOI-related AE.

Results: Seventy IOI-related AEs were reported in 49 eyes. Before the onset of first IOI-related AE, eyes received a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 3.9 ± 2.2 brolucizumab injections. Median time to first IOI-related AE from the last administered brolucizumab injection was 18.0 days (interquartile range, 4.0-29.0 days). Of the 70 AEs, 61 (87.1%) were treated, most with topical corticosteroids; systemic and intraocular corticosteroids were used for 3 AEs each. Overall, inflammation resolved completely in 39 eyes (79.6%), resolved with sequelae in 5 eyes (10.2%), and did not resolve in 5 eyes (10.2%) by end-of-study (EOS). Overall, the mean ± SD best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change from baseline to EOS, before AE to the lowest BCVA in 3 months after AE, and from before AE to EOS were -0.84 ± 20.6 , -16.31 ± 17.6, and -0.22 ± 18.9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters, respectively. Of the 36 eyes (73.5%) that continued with brolucizumab therapy after the first IOI-related AE, 24 completed the trials and 12 discontinued; mean ± SD BCVA change in these eyes was 2.6 ± 17.6, 7.8 ± 13.2, and -7.7 ± 21.3 ETDRS letters, respectively, from baseline to EOS. The remaining 13 eyes (26.5%) were not treated with brolucizumab after first IOI-related AE and showed a mean ± SD BCVA change of -10.4 ± 25.5 ETDRS letters from baseline to EOS.

Conclusions: Findings of this analysis highlight the need for continued vigilance and monitoring for any signs of IOI-related events in patients receiving brolucizumab.

Keywords: Anti–vascular endothelial growth factor; Brolucizumab; Intraocular inflammation; Neovascular age-related macular degeneration.