Anti-VEGF Intraocular Injection

Anti-VEGF Intraocular Injection

Anti-VEGF Intraocular Injection​

 

 

 

Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF medications. VEGF stands for vascular endothelial growth factor. In wet Macular Degeneration, the main cause of new blood vessels formation is VEGF, which will form abnormal blood vessels that bleed and leak easily.

New medications are made to act against these growth factors and inhibit or prevent the formation of new abnormal blood vessels.

We can see also new blood vessels in many ocular diseases other than Wet macular degeneration. These diseases are diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, premature retinopathy and sickle cell retinopathy. The main cause behind new blood vessels formation in these disease are the release of VEGF.

These medications are Bevacizumab, Pegaptanib and Ranibizumab. A new medication called VEGF Trap Eye is in the process of being approved by FDA.

 

 

Ranibizumab or Lucentis1- Ranibizumab

 

Ranibizumab or Lucentis is a monoclonal antibody that will bind and inhibit the action of VEGF especially VEGF-A. In wet macular degeneration, it is used as intraocular injection, once a month for 3 months.

 

2- Bevacizumab

Bevacizumab or avastin

Bevacizumab or avastin is also monoclonal antibody which will bind and inhibit the action of VEGF especially VEGF-A.

This drug has U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of metastatic cancer like colon cancer and breast cancer.

Although not currently approved by FDA, Avastin showed promising positive results in treatment of new blood vessels formation and also in diabetic macular edema.

 

 

Eylea or VEGF Trap Eye

3- Aflibercept

 

Aflibercept or Eylea is a new intravitreal medication that works by blocking the action of two growth factors which as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Placental Growth Factor ( P1GF). Read more about, Eylea Injection.

 

4- Combination of Fovista and Ranibizumab

 

Fovista from Ophthotech Corporation is Anti-Platelet-derived growth factor B (Anti-PDGF-B). PDGF-B factor is very important for the growth of pericytes cells in the walls of abnormal new blood vessels. The formation of these abnormal new blood vessels are called neovascularization which is the hallmark of Wet Age Related Macular Degeneration.

Fovista acts against PDGF-B to inhibit the growth of pericytes cells, therefore the formation of new blood vessels in inhibited. Ranibizumab inihibits Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A).

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A is very important factor for the formation of new blood vessels and combination of Fovista 1.5 mg and Ranibizumb (Lucentis) has additional benefits of 62% more than monotherapy of Ranibizumb. This combination is still under further study trials.

 

 

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