A commonly used anti-VEGF may not be as effective in treating diabetic macular edema in black patients

(c) peimag.com

A new study indicates a medication frequently used to treat diabetic macular edema, the most common cause of blindness in people with diabetes, is less effective when used to treat the condition in Black patients. 

Neovascular AMD: Bevacizumab Injection Increases Angiogenic Biomarkers

Dr. Thiago Cabral

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is induced by the development of new abnormal ‘leaky’ blood vessels in the choroid and retina, when the balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors is upset. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered a critical modulator of angiogenesis and is related to induction of endothelial cell migration and proliferation after hypoxia. The development of anti-VEGF agents, such as bevacizumab (Avastin®), ranibizumab (Lucentis®) and aflibercept (Eylea®), revolutionized the treatment of nAMD.

A Biomarker could predict response of intravitreal injections in Diabetic Macular Edema

(c) OMICS

Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital have found an association with a biomarker from aqueous fluid in the eye that predicts which patients will respond best to current treatments for diabetic macular edema. Their findings suggest this biomarker may be not only a marker of disease severity and anatomic response but also a potential therapeutic target in DME, recognizing that in patients with DME, there is not always a direct correlation between anatomic and visual acuity response.

RG7716 improves visual acuity in subjects with Diabetic Macular Edema in a Phase 2 study

(c)Pharmacodia.com

Genentech announced results from the Phase II BOULEVARD study, which is evaluating subjects with vision loss from diabetic macular edema (DME), where treatment with intravitreal RG7716 was observed to be clinically meaningful and statistically significant in improvement of visual acuity gains compared with ranibizumab alone.

New drugs in the pipeline target novel pathways for treatment of diabetic retinopathy

from NEI

There is exciting on-going research in the field of treatments for patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). There is a long list of drugs in the pipeline for treating this disease that affects a significant number of people around the world. Pipeline drugs target novel pathways to treat diabetic eye disease.

Eyedrops in development for treating conditions such as AMD and Diabetic macular edema

Eye drops are being developed for treating retina that will likely eliminate the need to inject compounds to the back of the eye in conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema.

From Scifluor

FDA approves Ozurdex for diabetic macular edema

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Allergan's Ozurdex (dexamethasone 0.7 mg, a sustained-release biodegradable intravitreal implant), for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). 

EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection Receives FDA Approval for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have announced that US FDA has approved EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). 

The recommended dosage of EYLEA in patients with DME is 2 milligrams (mg) every two months (8 weeks) after five initial monthly injections. Although EYLEA may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every 4 weeks, additional efficacy was not demonstrated when EYLEA was dosed every 4 weeks compared to every 8 weeks.

EYLEA is the first VEGF inhibitor approved for dosing on a less than monthly basis for the treatment of DME.