(PreserveMacForte.com) Bayer HealthCare’s Eylea (aflibercept “VEGF trap-eye”) intravitreal injection drug has been granted authorization in Europe to be used as a treatment for the wet version of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reported MIMS Ireland on February 12.
According to the article, VEGF happens to be an endogenous protein that is basically responsible for angiogenesis supporting the development of organs and tissues. That said, in certain cases, such as the onset of wet AMD, high amounts of VEGF can trigger the growth of irregular new blood vessels in the eye. This occurrence exhibits heightened permeability that results in oedema and vision impairment. According to the article, some studies suggest that anti-VEGF treatment assists in lessening not only oedema, but also permeability.
The article noted that previously available licensed anti-VEGF therapy for wet AMD has been successful in stopping the progression of the vision-loss ailment and in restoring some vision lost to the eye condition. The drawback, however, has been that the patients using these options require frequent treatments as well as monitoring on a monthly basis. According to the article, approval for treatment using Eylea is based on findings from the VIEW studies.
AMD, the leading cause of vision impairment in people who are older than 65, comes in two types, those being wet and dry. The wet version leads to the growth of blood vessels that, when they begin to leak fluid and blood, lead to damage to the retina. While some reports suggest that wet AMD accounts for a mere 10% to 15% of all AMD cases, the truth of the matter is that wet AMD is responsible for that vast majority — somewhere around 90% — of all severe vision loss cases stemming from AMD.
Dry AMD, which can eventually develop into wet AMD, occurs when drusen gathers under the retina and causes it to not only thin, but also to dry out. Vision loss stemming from dry AMD is largely a function of things such as the extent of retinal thinning. If new irregular blood vessels develop, dry AMD could potentially progress to wet AMD. This can possibly be prevented if people go in for regular eye exams.
Reference: http://www.imt.ie/mims/2013/02/eyla-indicated-in-patients-with-wet-amd.html