Longer treatment intervals possible with 8 mg aflibercept in DME

Data from the ongoing pivotal PHOTON trial presented at AAO 2022 demonstrated that vision was maintained at longer injection intervals with 8 mg intravitreal aflibercept in patients with diabetic macular edema.

In this multi-center randomized, double-masked study, patients with DME were randomized 1:2:1 to receive aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks after 5 initial monthly injections (n = 167), aflibercept 8 mg every 12 weeks after 3 initial injections (n = 328), or aflibercept 8 mg every 16 weeks after 3 initial monthly injections (n = 163).

At Week 48, both the aflibercept 8 mg groups showed non-inferior BCVA compared to the aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks group.

All groups demonstrated “a robust increase in visual acuity,” according to presenter David M. Brown, MD, and most patients receiving 8 mg aflibercept maintained randomized intervals through Week 48, with 93% of 8 mg patients maintaining dosing intervals of ≥12 weeks.

Dr Brown said that ocular adverse events through Week 48 were in line with other studies and there were no reported cases of endophthalmitis or occlusive retinal vasculitis.

Reference
Brown DM. Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection 8 mg for DME: 48-Week Results from the Phase 2/3 PHOTON Trial. Presented at: AAO 2022.