Treatment intervals extended to 12-weeks in more than half of aflibercept patients

A new study has shown the effectiveness of extended treatment intervals in the use of aflibercept for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Research presented at the 19^th Congress of the European Society of Retina Specialists in Paris, France (5–8 September) highlighted that a treat and extend regimen with aflibercept resulted in excellent visual acuity gains.

Treatment intervals were extended to 12-weeks in more than half of patients, while up to a third of patients were extended to injection intervals of up to 16 weeks.

Adverse event findings during the study were consistent with the known safety profile of aflibercept, researchers highlighted.

A treat and extend regimen involves adjusting the treatment schedule to the patient’s disease activity after a set number of initial doses.

Bayer’s medical director of ophthalmology, Dr Jackie Napier, highlighted that treating wet AMD has a “profound impact” on the capacity of the overstretched NHS.

She emphasised that the results support the existing evidence for the treat and extend approach, which has the potential to reduce the number of injections needed by patients.

“For some patients this could result in receiving just three injections in the second year of treatment which could relieve some of service pressures and patient burden associated with treatment,” Dr Napier shared.

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