Aflibercept may be more effective in DME than laser

Early results from two studies testing separate regimens of aflibercept injections against laser photocoagulation found both drug regimens appear more effective than laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Diana V. Do, MD, reported year one results from the VIVID and VISTA trials at Retina Subspecialty Day. In the two randomized, multicenter, double-masked trials in patients with clinically significant DME with central involvement, 406 eyes in the VIVID study and 466 eyes in the VISTA study were randomized 1:1:1 to receive 2 mg of intravitreal aflibercept every four weeks, 2 mg of aflibercept every eight weeks after five initial monthly doses or laser photocoagulation. Primary endpoint at week 52 was mean change in best corrected visual acuity.

Aflibercept-treated eyes gained on average 10.5 to 12.5 letters of acuity at year one, while 32 percent to 41 percent of aflibercept-treated eyes gained 15 or more letters of acuity compared with 8 percent to 9 percent of laser-treated eyes.

On average, aflibercept given every eight weeks was similar to aflibercept given every four weeks. Additionally, no systemic safety issues were observed through one year of treatment.