Shortened dosing intervals of aflibercept linked to improved visual acuity and retinal thickness

Treatment with aflibercept 8 mg at shortened dosing intervals can enhance outcomes, particularly for patients with diabetic macular edema who have certain baseline characteristics, such as shorter diabetes duration and higher central retinal thickness (CRT), according to findings from the PHOTON trial presented at AAO 2024.

In the trial, patients were assigned to receive aflibercept every 12 weeks (8q12) or every 16 weeks (8q16). Based on specific criteria, dosing intervals could be shortened to a minimum of 8 weeks or extended to a maximum of 24 weeks during the second year. Of note, 12.5% of patients on the 8q12 regimen and 16.5% on the 8q16 regimen experienced shortened dosing intervals.

Key findings included:

• Association with Baseline Factors:
  • Shorter dosing intervals correlated with:
    • Shorter duration of diabetes
    • Higher central retinal thickness (CRT)
  • Patients more likely to have shortened intervals:
    • Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 63 letters or fewer
    • CRT of 427 µm or more
• Improvements by Week 96:
  • Mean BCVA Improvements:
    • 8q12 group: from 61.5 letters at baseline to 66.9 letters at Week 96
    • 8q16 group: from 55.4 letters at baseline to 62.5 letters at Week 96
  • Mean CRT Changes:
    • 8q12 group: from 509.1 µm to 333.9 µm
    • 8q16 group: from 521.5 µm to 341.5 µm

Overall, up to 16.5% of patients on aflibercept 8 mg had their dosing intervals shortened, leading to notable improvements in visual acuity and retinal thickness by the end of the 96-week evaluation period.

Reference

Singh RP, et al. Baseline Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Treated With Aflibercept 8mg at Shortened Dosing Intervals in PHOTON. Presented at: American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting; October 18-21, 2024; Chicago.