If you comanage AMD patients with retina specialists, be aware that there’s now a fourth anti-VEGF agent to consider, as Novartis just received approval for Beovu (brolucizumab-dbll). The manufacturer says it offers greater fluid resolution and the ability to use a three-month dosing interval for maintaining patients—both advantages over existing anti-VEGF options. Greater fluid reduction was demonstrated through larger decreases in retinal thickness and a higher proportion of patients with drier retinas, a Novartis press release explains.

The approval was based on findings from the Phase III HAWK and HARRIER clinical trials involving more than 1,800 subjects, in which approximately 30% of patients gained at least 15 letters at year one and showed greater reduction in central subfield thickness as early as week 16 and at year one compared to aflibercept; also, fewer Beovu patients had intra- or subretinal fluid.

In HAWK and HARRIER, patients could be maintained on a three-month dosing interval immediately after the initial loading phase of three monthly injections. At year one, over half of patients were maintained on quarterly injections (56% in HAWK and 51% in HARRIER). The remaining patients were treated on a two-month dosing schedule.

Beovu exhibited an overall safety profile comparable to aflibercept, Novartis says. The most common adverse events (5% of patients) were vision blurred, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, vitreous floaters and eye pain.