Age-related macular degeneration occurs in two forms, dry and wet. With dry AMD, clumps of protein called drusen form under the retina to thin it and lead to central vision loss. While with wet AMD new abnormal blood vessels grow underneath it leaking fluid that damages cells of the macula.

Beovu

Beovu (brolucizumab) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, and has been found non-inferior to anti-VEGF drugs Eylea and Avastin when measured against vision improvement. Medication for macular degeneration is administered intravitreally through injection into the eyeball, usually every 4-6 weeks and for at least a year or longer to achieve maximum effectiveness. Within months of Beovu being released for clinical use, reports began surfacing of serious adverse side effects that exceeded those listed on its warning label, such as permanent loss of vision. Patients experiencing such effects may qualify to file a Beovu lawsuit claiming damages.

Beovu uses a monoclonal antibody that targets and attaches itself to an unwanted protein responsible for blood vessel growth in wet macular degeneration, thus inhibiting new blood vessel formation as well as leakage of fluid that damages macula cells and reduces visual acuity. Beovu differs from other anti-VEGF treatments by offering three month dosing intervals after its loading phase; this may make dosing easier on patients who would otherwise require monthly injections of alternate medications.

Beovu has also been associated with an uncommon but serious side effect known as endophthalmitis. This condition often appears three to five days following injection and could even result in blindness if untreated properly. Endophthalmitis should be treated as a medical emergency and anyone experiencing symptoms should seek advice immediately from either their retina specialist or visit an urgent care clinic with on-call physicians.

Novartis may owe those affected by adverse side effects from Beovu financial compensation for additional medical care and expenses associated with lost vision, income losses and pain and suffering. Attorneys specializing in pharmaceutical injury claims like Beovu are available to help victims and their families determine if financial compensation may be available; most typically on a no-win, no-fee basis that charges nothing upfront for services provided.

Susvimo

Susvimo, developed by Genentech and Roche, is a refillable implant designed to deliver ranibizumab directly into the eye over six months. It serves as an alternative to monthly anti-VEGF eye injections for wet age-related macular degeneration or neovascular (wet) AMD. After being surgically placed into one’s eye for one time use and periodically replenished thereafter. According to JAMA Ophthalmology studies conducted on its usage by patients they reported high satisfaction with its treatment outcomes.

Archway was a phase 3 clinical trial conducted to extend time between treatments up to six months for more than 98% of participants and achieve equivalent vision outcomes with monthly Lucentis injections. Furthermore, it was safe and well tolerated compared with monthly injections with no difference in rates of adverse events between groups.

This implant was designed to work similarly to anti-VEGF eye injections by targeting VEGF proteins that cause blood vessels to expand too long and leak blood into the macula, leading to vision loss. The implant contains ranibizumab – a VEGFR-1 inhibitor which inhibits formation of new vessels while decreasing leakiness of existing ones – to achieve this aim.

According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, however, this device has been linked with increased cataracts and vitreous hemorrhage – with some patients even needing their implant removed due to complications. Furthermore, its cost far outweighs anti-VEGF eye injections while patients will need to visit their physicians frequently in order to get refills.

Susvimo was approved by the FDA to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, which is characterized by abnormal blood vessel formation that leads to fluid buildup and permanent vision loss. The approval was based on data from Archway study which demonstrated that patients suffering from wet AMD achieved and sustained visual improvements comparable to those who received monthly ranibizumab eye injections for similar treatments.

Susvimo, which can be administered by either a doctor or eye care professional, is the first wet AMD treatment that offers long-term benefits by eliminating monthly injections while potentially helping maintain vision over time. The FDA has recommended that insurance companies cover its cost.

Eylea

The FDA recently granted approval of Eylea, a new drug developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Bayer HealthCare that blocks abnormal blood vessel growth within the retina to help combat wet macular degeneration – one of the main causes of blindness among older Americans. Eylea works by blocking abnormal vascular growth within retina. Furthermore, its treatment helps decrease fluid buildup that leads to vision loss caused by wet macular degeneration.

This medication is administered as an eye drop and works by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promotes abnormal blood vessel growth in wet AMD. While injections may be uncomfortable for some, most patients tolerate them well enough that treatment sessions typically occur once every month; clinical trials were promising and patients reported improved visual acuity following treatment.

In two Phase II trials, this drug proved its efficacy at maintaining visual acuity while having an acceptable safety profile. Common side effects were eye pain, retinal hemorrhage and reduced visual acuity; serious non-ocular side effects included falls, pneumonia and atrial fibrillation.

VEGF is a naturally-occurring protein found throughout our bodies that stimulates blood vessel formation for tissue and organ development, however in the eye, VEGF can promote abnormal new blood vessel formation with increased permeability that leak fluid into the retina causing swelling or leakage of fluid from its core, leading to eye swelling or severe vision loss.

Anti-VEGF treatments work by blocking the protein and decreasing its permeability, most frequently used to treat wet macular degeneration but also applicable in diabetic retinopathy and macular edema due to CRVO or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Regeneron and Bayer will launch their new drug Eylea in the US market later this year. It is an intravitreal injection approved to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, neovascular age-related macular degeneration and macular edema from central retinal vein occlusion; photodynamic therapy or other forms of treatment such as can also be employed if necessary; it should not be administered uncontrolled hypertension and bleeding disorders are contraindicated for use.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a retinal condition caused by high levels of blood sugar, damaging blood vessels in the retina that provide light-sensitive cells with oxygen for vision. When left untreated, diabetic retinopathy may lead to permanent loss of sight.

There are two forms of diabetic retinopathy: dry and wet. Of these forms, dry is more prevalent, accounting for more than 85% of macular degeneration cases; it’s typically marked by small white or yellow deposits called drusen that build up on the macula over time and eventually thin out. Wet macular degeneration, on the other hand, occurs when abnormal new blood vessels form beneath the retina that leak blood or fluid into it causing swelling of macula cells causing vision loss over time.

Happily, eye exams are a reliable way of diagnosing retinal diseases. Your eye doctor may use fluorescein angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography tests to analyze your retina’s blood vessels and look for any areas where fluid leakage or new blood vessel growth might be occurring.

To conduct these tests, eye drops will be given to dilate your pupils, before your ophthalmologist uses special lenses to view inside of your eye using special lighting. This allows the doctor to assess what type of retinopathy you have as well as its status over time.

Eylea was recently approved as an FDA-approved treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO). This medication prevents blood vessel formation by blocking its formation while simultaneously decreasing fluid flow by inhibiting production of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) within the eye.

Staggered bilateral administration of this anti-VEGF injection should last up to one year with initial dosing every four or eight weeks, making this the first long-acting anti-VEGF injection ever tested on wet AMD patients. Other companies are working on similar drugs including Adverum Biotechnologies Inc’s VLTR-557 and Clearside Biomedical’s CLS-AX from Adverum.