Aflibercept proves effective over 24 months for diabetic macular edema

Intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) could be a valuable therapeutic option for managing diabetic macular edema (DME) in routine clinical practice, according to promising outcomes from the AURIGA study.

The AURIGA study, the largest real-world investigation to date on the use of IVT-AFL in DME, has reported promising 24-month outcomes. This prospective observational study, 1478 treatment-naïve and 384 previously treated patients with DME received IVT-AFL treatment based on physician discretion and local practice, with the primary endpoint being the mean change in visual acuity (VA) measured in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters from baseline to month 12.

By month 12, treatment-naïve patients experienced a mean change of +6.7 letters, while previously treated patients exhibited a change of +7.4 letters. These gains were maintained at month 24, with treatment-naïve patients achieving a mean change of +5.9 letters and previously treated patients showing a change of +8.1 letters.

By month 24, 25.9% of treatment-naïve and 32.8% of previously treated patients achieved a ≥15-letter improvement. In addition, improvements in central retinal thickness were observed, with treatment-naïve patients recording a mean change of -110 µm and previously treated patients showing a change of -169 µm by month 24.

Reference
Donati S, Yang CH, Xu X, et al; AURIGA study investigators. Intravitreal Aflibercept for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema in Routine Clinical Practice: Results from the 24-Month AURIGA Observational Study. Ophthalmol Ther. 2023;doi: 10.1007/s40123-023-00829-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37924483.