Brolucizumab meets secondary endpoints for fluid resolution in wet AMD

A new data analysis of prespecified secondary endpoints of the phase 3 HAWK and HARRIER trials showed that retinal fluid was detected less often in patients treated with brolucizumab 6 mg compared with patients treated with aflibercept over four visits in the 36- to 48-week treatment period.

According to a press release from Novartis, this is noteworthy because “it provides insight into the effect of maintenance treatment, an important clinical focus for a chronic disease like [neovascular age-related macular degeneration].” The data were also reported at the Euretina meeting.

“Retinal fluid is an important marker of disease activity and the need for treatment. These new data give physicians even more insight into the robustness of the 48-week anatomical findings and support the overall impact brolucizumab has on key measures of retinal fluid, including [intraretinal fluid/subretinal fluid], subretinal pigment epithelial fluid and central subfield thickness,” Dirk Sauer, development unit head, Novartis Ophthalmology, said in the release. “These results were noted even while more than half of brolucizumab 6 mg patients were receiving treatment every 12 weeks at week 48, further reinforcing our confidence in brolucizumab’s superior fluid resolution and supporting our goal of reimagining care for people with [neovascular] AMD.”

The HAWK and HARRIER studies previously met their primary endpoints of non-inferiority in mean change in best corrected visual acuity at week 48 with brolucizumab compared with aflibercept, according to the release.