Extended dosing of aflibercept improves treatment for age-related macular degeneration
The PULSAR trial demonstrated the efficacy and safety of extended dosing intervals of aflibercept 8 mg in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), according to study results published in The Lancet.
The study, which enrolled 1011 patients with nAMD, randomized participants into 3 groups: aflibercept 8 mg every 12 weeks (8q12), aflibercept 8 mg every 16 weeks (8q16), and aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks (2q8). Following 3 initial monthly doses, patients in the aflibercept 8 mg groups had their dosing intervals adjusted based on pre-specified criteria indicating disease activity.
Results indicate that both aflibercept 8q12 and 8q16 showed non-inferior gains in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) compared to aflibercept 2q8. The mean BCVA change from baseline was +6.7 and +6.2 letters for 8q12 and 8q16, respectively, versus +7.6 letters for 2q8. Importantly, the incidence of ocular adverse events in the study eye was similar across all groups.
These findings suggest that aflibercept 8 mg with extended dosing intervals could provide sustained disease control and improved outcomes for patients with nAMD.
Reference
Lanzetta P, Korobelnik JF, Heier JS, et al; PULSAR Investigators. Intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (PULSAR): 48-week results from a randomised, double-masked, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2024;S0140-6736(24)00063-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00063-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38461841.
