Brolucizumab (ESBA1008; RTH258) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of visual impairment in older adults in the UK. It has three stages – early, intermediate, and late – and can occur in one or both eyes. It is possible for one eye to be at the early stage and the other at late stage. There are two types of late stage AMD: ‘dry’ AMD and ‘wet’ (or neovascular) AMD. One of the ways wet AMD can be treated is with injections of growth inhibitors delivered directly in to the eye (VEGF inhibitors). Brolucizumab is a new VEGF inhibitor, and if licensed, would offer another treatment option for patients with wet AMD. One of its potential benefits could be a potentially longer treatment effect duration, which would reduce the frequency of injections.