VIDEO: Anti-VEGF agents show comparable results in evaluative study

Diana Do, MD, professor of ophthalmology at Stanford University, discussed her presentation on the comparison of the efficacy of multiple anti-VEGF treatments in wet AMD at the virtual American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

Results from a network meta-analysis of 21 randomized trials showed no clinically significant differences in dosing regimens or anti-VEGF agents in visual acuity outcomes at 12- and 24-month intervals.

After examining best visual acuity outcomes at 12 and 24 months, Do and colleagues then evaluated a proportion of patients who gained 15 or more letters.

“We looked at different dosing regimens, including as-needed administration of anti-VEGF agents, monthly administration of anti-VEGF agents, or treat and extend dosing intervals of these anti VEGF agents,” Do said. An interesting outcome, according to Do, was a lack of clinical difference in visual acuity that showed superiority of a specific anti-VEGF agent or dosing regimen among the clinical trials.

“We found that many of these dosing regimens were very effective in improving visual acuity outcomes in patients with wet AMD,” Do told Healio. “We know that undertreatment will result in decreased visual acuity outcomes, and we've seen this when we look at real world analysis of patients in clinical practice. It's important as clinicians to make sure that we encourage patients to come back regularly, because these individual antibiotic agents need to be given at certain intervals in order to control the disease and to maintain visual acuity outcomes,” Do told Healio.