EYLEA

Eylea is the brand name for aflibercept, a recombinant fusion protein used as an anti-VEGF therapy in ophthalmology. It consists of VEGF-binding domains of VEGF receptors 1 and 2 fused to an IgG1 Fc fragment. By acting as a decoy receptor, it sequesters vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A and VEGF-B) and placental growth factor (PlGF), reducing pathological blood vessel growth and leakage in the retina.

Indications include neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and macular edema after retinal vein occlusion (RVO), including central or branch vein occlusions.

Administration is via intravitreal injection performed by an ophthalmologist. Typical dosing begins with monthly injections (every 4 weeks) for the first three months (loading phase), followed by injections every eight weeks, with the exact schedule tailored to the patient’s response.

Safety considerations include common ocular adverse events such as conjunctival hemorrhage, conjunctival hyperemia, eye pain, increased intraocular pressure, and sterile endophthalmitis. Systemic adverse events may include arterial thromboembolic events, though systemic risks appear low. Patients should be monitored for signs of infection or inflammation.

Development and regulation: Eylea was developed by Regeneron and Sanofi. FDA approval for wet AMD was granted in 2011, with subsequent approvals for DME and RVO-related edema in following years. It has become a leading anti-VEGF therapy in retinal diseases, alongside other agents such as ranibizumab and bevacizumab.