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Anti-VEGF therapies represent revolution in molecular therapy
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Vascular endothelial growth factor has created a therapeutic paradigm shift in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, said Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA.
Researchers and clinicians have recognized that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for the successful treatment of acute neovascularization, Dr. Puliafito told attendees here at a symposium on anti-VEGF therapies.
Macugen (pegaptanib sodium, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) was recently approved for use in the United States and is administered every 6 weeks. Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) is in phase 3 trials and has not yet been approved for marketing in the United States. Lucentis is administered every 4 weeks. Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) is in preliminary trials, he said.
Results suggest that Lucentis delivers a durable treatment effect, Dr. Puliafito said. Patients have achieved good visual acuity up to 22 months after stopping the 10-dose treatment regimen.
At this early stage, limitations of the anti-VEGF therapies exist, Dr. Puliafito said. One problem is that clinicians have yet to determine whether the treatment regimen of injections administered every 4 to 6 weeks over the long term is the most appropriate therapy, he said.
“More importantly, what do our patients want?” he said.
The symposium, Anti-VEGF Therapies in the Management of Choroidal Neovascularization, was a continuing medical educational activity sponsored by SLACK Incorporated and supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech.