Aflibercept effective but concerns raised over long-term use

Article

Aflibercept is effective in inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for a prolonged period of time, but possible side effects draw concerns about its long-term use in patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema and retinal vein occlusion, according to the conclusions of a new study.

Aflibercept is effective in inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for a prolonged period of time, but possible side effects draw concerns about its long-term use in patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema and retinal vein occlusion, according to the conclusions of a new study.

To compare the effectiveness of aflibercept to VEGF-antagonists ranibizumab and bevacizumab, the authors treated porcine RPE/choroid organ cultures with 125 μg/mL of one of the three drugs, and they evaluated the VEGF content of the supernatant over 7 days. They also measured the minimal concentration of VEGF inhibition in the organ cultures 6 hours after application.

Aflibercept completely inhibited VEGF detection for 6 hours at a minimal concentration of 0.031 μg/mL. By comparison, the necessary concentration of bevacizumab was 3.9 μg/mL, and the needed ranibizumab concentration was 0.244 μg/mL. Regarding aflibercept and ranibizumab, a statistically significant VEGF inhibition compared with the control could be found down to and including 0.031 μg/mL. Bevacizumab, by comparison, was significantly reduced compared with the control down to a concentration of 0.244 μg/mL and also at 0.061 μg/mL.

VEGF was inhibited after one aflibercept application of 125 μg/mL over the course of the 7 days; the investigators detected some VEGF on the last day. By comparison, the researchers detected VEGF after 72 hours of ranibizumab treatment and after 12 hours of bevacizumab treatment.

To read the abstract of the study, visit Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Christine Curcio, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, shares histology update and revised nomenclature for OCT with Sheryl Stevenson of the Eye Care Network and Ophthalmology Times
SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, FARVO, shares key points from his retina presentation at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium
Robert Sergott, MD, describes fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and the International SPECTRALIS Symposium – And Beyond (ISS) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, spoke with Ophthalmology Times Europe about his presentation. It's titled "An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma" at the International SPECTRALIS Sympsoium. In conversation with Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe
Anat Loewenstein, MD, describes her presentation on remote imaging for age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium, in conversation with Hattie Hayes of Ophthalmology Times Europe
Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, a US Navy Aerospace Optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS)
Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD, shares his presentation, titled An eye on neurodegenerative diseases: Challenging the dogma, at this year's International SPECTRALIS Symposium
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.