A new treatment for wet AMD is one step away from being available to patients.  The Advisory Panel for the Food and Drug Administration has recommended approval of the VEGF Trap-Eye therapy.  The FDA usually takes the recommendation of the panel and approval is expected in August 2011.

VEGF-Trap Eye is now known by it's brand name, Eylea and is made by Regeneron. 
The value of the therapy is that it does not require monthly injections to be as effective as Lucentis.

Eylea (aflibercept ophthalmic solution) is an intravitreal injection, initially given every four weeks for the first three treatments and then every 8 weeks.  It's safety profile is comparable to Lucentis, the standard treatment for wet macular degeneration.  Eylea was shown to be equally effective to Lucentis after 52 weeks.  Lucentis has proven to stop the progression of wet AMD in 95% of patients.

Once approved, the really excellent news about Eylea is that patients and their physicians will now have multiple treatment choices available.  Every patient responds differently, so it is important to have as many options as possible.  These options for wet macular degeneration now include:  Lucentis, Avastin, PDT (photodynamic therapy with Visudyne), Macugen and laser treatment.

June 20, 2011