Anatomic outcomes consistent with visual changes in patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy

In a retrospective analysis of the phase III MARINA study results, patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who were treated with the 0.5-mg dose of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) had improvement in anatomic outcomes that corresponded to improved visual acuity and was compared to a sham group, according to Nancy M. Holekamp, MD.

Fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were used to assess anatomic changes for patients receiving ranibizumab or sham injection over 24 months for FA and 12 months for OCT, explained Dr. Holekamp at the retina free paper session during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

The key anatomic endpoints were:

• Mean total lesion area at 24 months.

• Total area of CNV at 24 months.

• Mean area of leakage at 24 months.

• Mean foveal retinal thickness at 12 months.

Ranibizumab was shown to have favorable anatomic outcomes with little growth in the mean total lesion area, no growth of CNV, decreased leakage, and significant thinning of the retina, Dr. Holekamp said.

"These anatomic changes were consistent with visual outcomes," she concluded.