Anti-VEGF agent improves visual acuity, quality of life in CRVO patients

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — VEGF Trap-Eye was found to improve visual acuity in patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion, according to a speaker here.

"On the safety side, VEGF Trap-Eye was tolerated without evidence of negative ocular or systemic effect. From the efficacy standpoint, there was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients who gained greater than or equal to three lines," Julia A. Haller, MD, OSN Retina/Vitreous Board Member, said at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.

The COPERNICUS trial, a randomized, double-masked controlled phase 3 trial, included 189 patients who received six monthly 2-mg injections of VEGF Trap-Eye (aflibercept ophthalmic solution, Regeneron).The control group included 74 patients who received sham injections.

After the primary endpoint of 24 weeks, 56.1% of patients in the treatment group gained at least 15 letters of vision. Only 12.3% of patients in the sham treatment group achieved the same end result (P < .0001), Dr. Haller said.

Patients in the treatment group had a mean gain of 17.3 letters, compared with a mean loss of 4.0 letters in the sham treatment group.

The results echo the positive results of the GALILEO study.

Dr. Haller also noted a rapid decrease in central retinal thickness of 457.8 µm in the treatment group, compared with 144.8 µm in the sham group.

Quality of life, according to the NEI VFQ, significantly increased, improving 7.2 points in the treatment group and only 0.8 points in the sham group, Dr. Haller said.

Disclosure: Dr. Haller is a consultant to Regeneron.