A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that half of patients treated with aflibercept for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were able to be weaned from the therapy after one year of treatment without further vision loss. (via.)
Tell me about the study.
This study reviewed charts of 106 patients (122 eyes) receiving intravitreal injections of aflibercept (Eylea) or bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of wet AMD. Of these, 70 eyes received aflibercept and 52 received bevacizumab.
All patients received monthly injections for the first three months before the interval between treatments was extended. Patients receiving aflibercept were allowed longer intervals between treatment than those receiving bevacizumab (mean: 8.4 ±0.3 weeks vs. 6.9 ±0.4 weeks; p = 0.008).
What did they find?
Only 17% of patients treated with bevacizumab were able to be weaned off therapy after one year, in contrast with 50% of patients receiving aflibercept.
What does this mean for patients?
Aflibercept and bevacizumab are the two most popular therapies for treating wet AMD, but the difference in cost is dramatic; aflibercept costs $2000 per injection and bevacizumab costs $100. (via.)
While previous studies have shown that aflibercept’s efficacy is potentially higher for some patients, the difference in efficacy typically does not outweigh the difference in cost.
The takeaway.
Efficacy is just one of many factors affecting the choice of therapy for patients with wet AMD. Cost and length of treatment continue to be major factors for both doctors and patients when considering the best option.