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Systemic approach may offer advantages over local treatments for AMD

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Investigational systemic drugs may offer advantages over injections for treatment of age-related macular degeneration, including fast delivery of medication and the ability to treat patients bilaterally, according to Philip J. Rosenfeld MD, PhD.

Systemic anti-angiogenic drugs may also be less risky than intravitreal or sub-Tenon’s injections, Dr. Rosenfeld said. Dr. Rosenfeld will discuss the potential of systemic antiangiogenic drugs for AMD at Hawaii 2005, The Royal Hawaiian Eye Meeting, to be held Jan. 16-21.

One systemic drug in early trials for treatment of neovascularization is VEGF-Trap (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals). According to Dr. Rosenfeld, the drug combines two VEGF receptors with the Fc portion of IgG1 to create an antibody-like molecule that binds VEGF with high affinity. Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) is another drug under investigation for AMD treatment; it is currently approved for use in colorectal cancer.

While systemic drugs such as VEGF-Trap and Avastin may offer advantages over direct injections, they pose the traditional risks of systemic drugs, Dr. Rosenfeld said. Physicians can prescribe the drug intermittently, rather than continuously, in order to minimize side effects, he said.